GOOGLE THE SYMPTOMS: THE CAUSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF SEARCHING ONLINE FOR SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES (A CASE STUDY OF CHAKDARA, DIR LOWER, KHYBER PAKHTUKHWA, PAKISTAN)
Journal of Disease and Global Health,
Page 43-49
Abstract
Anxiety is one of the most prevailing types of mental illnesses. Hypochondria (health anxiety is one of them and exacerbated by online searching for symptoms of different illnesses currently termed as cyberchodria. This study aims to find out prevalence of hypochondria/cyberchondria (its causes and implications) in Dir, Lower Khyber, Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study is framed under mix-method design and is cross-sectional. Using purposive sampling technique a total 82 patients were sampled for quantitative data collection while 5 individuals were sampled (3 patients and 2 doctors). The patients were diagnosed as hypochondriac by medical professionals. An interview schedule and interview guide were used as tools for data collection. Data has been analyzed into tables and inferential statistics are applied whereas the qualitative data has been transcribed and findings are extracted. Findings show that health anxiety in shape of hypochondria prevail in the study area and can be termed as cyberchondria as it is because of access to and use of internet. Educational level, access to and use of internet and reading health contents on social media are significantly associated with hypochondria among the sampled patients.
Keywords:
- Anxiety
- hypochondria
- cyberchondria
- internet
- symptoms
How to Cite
References
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