The prevalence of Cyberchondria during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A cross-sectional study among a sample of Students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Nowadays, the Internet and cyberspace play an important role in obtaining medical information. Many people on the Internet are looking for various information about diseases and their side effects.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Cyberchondria among medical students in Kermanshah.

The present study was conducted using the descriptive-cross-sectional method. The population was all students of the University of Medical Sciences in Kermanshah in 2020. The sample of the current study included 372 students (206 males and 166 females) who were selected by convenience sampling method. The instrument used was a short form of Cyberchondria severity. Furthermore, SPSS statistical software version 25 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive indices of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Fisherchr('39')s exact test, Chi-square, inferential indices of independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance test, and Scheffe test were utilized in this research.

The results of independent t-test showed that there is a significant difference in the total score of Cyberchondria (P=0.019) between men and women and, women reported higher rates of Cyberchondria. In terms of prevalence, most students were in the moderate range of Cyberchondria (74.46%), and the prevalence of severe Cyberchondria status of the participants was estimated at 13.97%.

Since medical students in hospitals face various clients and different symptoms, they use the Internet a lot to obtain information in the field of medicine. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that Cyberchondria has a relatively high prevalence among medical students.