Cyberchondria Screening in Pregnant Women Applying to The Outpatient Clinics of a Training and Research Hospital

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the level of cyberchondria in pregnant women admitted to a training and research hospital, to determine the effective sociodemographic factors and to increase the awareness of physicians about risky groups. Methods: The data form prepared by the authors by reviewing the literature and The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) were applied to pregnant women who applied to Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinics. In the Data Form, educational status, risky situations experienced during pregnancy, presence of chronic diseases, etc. were questioned. All pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study without any randomisation and until sufficient data was obtained. Results: A significant relationship was found between cyberchondria total score and education, chronic disease, gestational week and information sources. The difference between compulsion score and risky situation in pregnancy, distress score and choice of information source, mistrust of medical professional score and education and gestational week, excessiveness score and education and having a chronic disease, and reassurance score according to age groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: It is important for health professionals to approach more carefully to pregnant women who experience hypothyroidism during pregnancy, prefer the internet as a source of information, are university graduates, have chronic diseases and are in the first trimester. Keywords: pregnancy, anxiety, internet