Examination of the Correlation Between Cyberchondria Level and E-Health Literacy and Health Promotion Behaviours in Adolescents

Öz

With the widespread use of the internet today, individuals can more easily access health-related information through online resources. However, excessive and uncontrolled searching for health-related information can lead to intense health anxiety in individuals. This situation is defined as "cyberchondria" in the literature. This study aims to examine the relationship between cyberchondria levels and e-health literacy and health promotion levels in adolescents with high internet usage rates. The study was conducted in some public high schools in Çorum province. Data were collected using a face-to-face survey method with the Personal Information Form, Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form, E-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents, and Adolescent Health Promotion Scale. Mean, standard deviation, number, percentage, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, ANOVA test, and t-test were used in data analysis. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. In this study, the average cyberchondria score of adolescents was found to be 25.98±6.80 (low level), the average e-health literacy score was 25.76±6.33 (medium level), and the average health promotion score was 129.79±22.84 (medium level). A significant relationship was found between adolescents' daily internet use time, their internet use for health-related research, and their cyberchondria, e-health literacy, and health promotion behaviours (p<0.05). A positive but weak correlation was found between adolescents' cyberchondria level and their e-health literacy and health promotion behaviours (p<0.01). In conclusion, as adolescents' cyberchondria level increases, their e-health literacy and health promotion behaviour levels also increase. In this context, it is recommended that school health nurses raise awareness about online health research, organize trainings to increase access to reliable information, e-health literacy, and health promotion behaviours, and support research in this area.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• adolescent
• internet use
• cyberchondria
• e-health literacy
• health promotion

Destekleyen Kurum

No supporting organization.

Etik Beyan

The required permissions were attained from Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee (26.08.2022 2022-760) and Corum Governorship Provincial Directorate of National Education (E-43436584-604.01.03-60605319). The permissions to use the "Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12)", "e-Health Literacy Scale in Adolescents", and "Adolescent Health Promotion Scale" were attained by e-mail. Verbal consents were obtained from the students who voluntarily participated in the research and their parents by explaining the study's objective, and the Informed Parent/Guardian Consent Form was signed.

Teşekkür

We thank the adolescents who participated in the study.

Adölesanlarda Siberkondri Düzeyi ile E-Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ve Sağlığı Geliştirme Davranışları Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Günümüzde internet kullanımının yaygınlaşmasıyla birlikte bireyler sağlıkla ilgili bilgiye çevrim içi kaynaklar aracılığıyla daha kolay ulaşabilmektedir. Ancak sağlıkla ilgili bilgilerin aşırı ve kontrolsüz biçimde araştırılması, bireylerde yoğun sağlık kaygısına yol açabilmektedir. Bu durum literatürde “siberkondri” olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, internet kullanım oranı yüksek olan adölesanların siberkondri düzeyleri ile e-sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlık geliştirme düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma Çorum ilindeki bazı devlet liselerinde yürütülmüştür. Veriler; Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Siberkondri Ciddiyeti Ölçeği Kısa Formu, Adölesanlar için E-Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği ve Adölesan Sağlığı Geliştirme Ölçeği kullanılarak yüz yüze anket yöntemiyle toplanmıştır. Veri analizinde ortalama, standart sapma, sayı, yüzde, Kolmogrov-Smirnov testi, Mann-Whitney U testi, Kruskal-Wallis H testi, ANOVA testi ve t-testi kullanılmıştır. İstatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05 olarak kabul edilmiştir. Çalışmada, adölesaların ortalama siberkondri puanı 25,98±6,80 (düşük düzey), ortalama e-sağlık okuryazarlığı puanı 25,76±6,33 (orta düzey) ve ortalama sağlığı geliştirme puanı 129,79±22,84 (orta düzey) olarak saptanmıştır. Adölesanların günlük internet kullanım süresi, internette sağlıkla ilgili araştırma yapma durumu ve siberkondri, e-sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlığı geliştirme davranışları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Adölesanların siberkondri düzeyi ile e-sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlık geliştirme davranışları arasında pozitif ancak zayıf düzeyde ilişki bulunmuştur (p<0,01). Sonuç olarak adölesanların siberkondri düzeyi arttıkça, e-sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlığı geliştirme davranış düzeyleri de artmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, okul sağlığı hemşirelerinin çevrimiçi sağlık araştırmalarında farkındalık oluşturmaları, güvenilir bilgiye erişimi, e-sağlık okuryazarlığını ve sağlığı geliştirme davranışlarını artırmak için eğitimler düzenlemeleri ve araştırmaları desteklemeleri önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• adölesan
• internet kullanımı
• siberkondri
• e-sağlık okuryazarlığı
• sağlık geliştirme

Destekleyen Kurum

Destekleyen kurum yok.

Etik Beyan

Gerekli izinler Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Etik Kurulu'ndan (26.08.2022 2022-760) ve Çorum Valiliği Milli Eğitim Müdürlüğü'nden (E-43436584-604.01.03-60605319) alınmıştır. "Siberkondri Şiddeti Ölçeği Kısa Formu (CSS-12)", "Ergenlerde e-Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği" ve "Ergen Sağlığı Geliştirme Ölçeği"nin kullanım izinleri e-posta yoluyla alınmıştır. Araştırmaya gönüllü olarak katılan öğrencilerden ve velilerinden, çalışmanın amacı açıklanarak sözlü onay alınmış ve Bilgilendirilmiş Veli/Vasi Onam Formu imzalanmıştır.

Teşekkür

Çalışmaya katılım sağlayan adölesanlara teşekkür ederiz.

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