CyberchondriaNCT07192354
The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Health Perception and Anxiety Level in Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study
An observational study of Cyberchondria and Pregnancy, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Pregnancy is a unique period in which women require extensive health information both to protect their own health and to prepare for motherhood. The literature indicates that pregnant women most frequently seek information on healthy nutrition, physical activity, fetal development, pregnancy symptoms, childbirth… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cyberchondria, Pregnancy
- What is being tested?
- Questionnaire and Physical Exam
- How many people
- 166 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 27 Oct 2025to 30 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: pregnant women
Who may be able to join
- Must be 18 years or older, pregnant, have access to the internet at any time, and have the ability to use it.
- Must be proficient in Turkish to understand the scales.
Who cannot join
- Having a diagnosed psychiatric illness,
- Being a healthcare worker,
- Having cognitive impairment or mental or physical limitations to the extent that they cannot understand questions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Pregnancy is a unique period in which women require extensive health information both to protect their own health and to prepare for motherhood. The literature indicates that pregnant women most frequently seek information on healthy nutrition, physical activity, fetal development, pregnancy symptoms, childbirth preparation, vaccination, and medication use. Although health professionals are considered reliable sources of information, due to limited accessibility, pregnant women often turn to the internet and social media. This increases the risk of exposure to inaccurate or incomplete information and may sometimes lead to cyberchondria. Moreover, during pregnancy, factors such as educational level, socioeconomic conditions, and family relationships contribute to the frequent occurrence of anxiety disorders, which can negatively affect the mother's quality of life and fetal development. Health perception, on the other hand, is an important concept that shapes individuals' health behaviors and responsibilities. However, studies examining the relationship between cyberchondria, anxiety levels, and health perception in pregnant women are limited. This study aims to reveal the relationship between health information-seeking behaviors, health perception, and anxiety levels in this special population of pregnant women.
- Conditions
- Cyberchondria, Pregnancy
- Being tested
- Questionnaire and Physical Exam
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Questionnaire and Physical ExamOther
Participants will be administered the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12), Health Perception Scale, and State and Trait Anxiety Scale online via Google form.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Cyberchondria Severity Scale
The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) was originally developed by McElroy and Shevlin (2014) to evaluate cyberchondria, defined as a form of anxiety characterized by excessive health-related information seeking on the internet. Subsequently, McElroy et al. (2019) introduced the short form of the scale, the CSS-12. The Turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability study of the CSS-12 was conducted by Söyler et al. (2021).
The CSS-12 consists of 12 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). Total scores are calculated by summing all item responses, with possible scores ranging from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater severity of cyberchondria. The scale does not contain any reverse-coded items. The CSS-12 comprises four subdimensions: excessiveness, distress, reassurance-seeking, and compulsion.
Measured: 1 month
The Health Perception Scale
The Health Perception Scale (HPS) was developed by Diamond et al. in 2007 to assess individuals' perceptions of their own health. The Turkish adaptation, including validity and reliability testing, was conducted by Kadıoğlu et al. in 2012. The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale, with response options ranging from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." Negative items are reverse-coded (Strongly Disagree = 5 to Strongly Agree = 1). The scale includes four subdimensions: central control, self-awareness, certainty, and importance of health. Total scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores reflecting a more positive health perception. Participants indicate their agreement with each item, allowing researchers to quantify their overall health perception and examine its relationship with other psychosocial variables.
Measured: 1 month
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was originally adapted into Turkish by Öner and Le Compte between 1974 and 1977 to evaluate anxiety levels in both adolescent and adult Turkish populations. The inventory is widely used in research involving young and adult groups. The State Anxiety Scale items assess the intensity of feelings or behaviors in response to specific situations, with responses rated on a 4-point scale: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Somewhat, 3 = Much, 4 = Completely. The Trait Anxiety Scale items evaluate the frequency of feelings or behaviors over time, with response options: 1 = Almost never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Almost always. The State Anxiety Scale consists of both direct items (3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18) and reverse-scored items (1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20). Similarly, the Trait Anxiety Scale includes direct items (22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40) and reverse-scored items (21, 26, 27, 30,
Measured: 1 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Sep 2025
- Study start27 Oct 2025
- Primary completion30 Dec 2025
- Study completion30 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CyberchondriaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nurcan Contarli, Karabuk University
- Investigators
- Tarik OZMEN, PhD, Study chair, Karabuk UniversityNesibe Sumeyye KUTAHYALIOGLU, PhD, Principal investigator, Karabuk UniversityNurcan CONTARLI, PhD, Principal investigator, Karabuk University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07192354
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KBUPTherapy
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 28 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Health Perception and Anxiety Level in Pregnant Women: A Cross-sectional Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07192354
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KBUPTherapy
- Conditions
- Cyberchondria, Pregnancy
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Pregnancy is a unique period in which women require extensive health information both to protect their own health and to prepare for motherhood. The literature indicates that pregnant women most frequently seek information on healthy nutrition, physical activity, fetal development, pregnancy symptoms, childbirth preparation, vaccination, and medication use. Although health professionals are considered reliable sources of information, due to limited accessibility, pregnant women often turn to the internet and social media. This increases the risk of exposure to inaccurate or incomplete information and may sometimes lead to cyberchondria. Moreover, during pregnancy, factors such as educational level, socioeconomic conditions, and family relationships contribute to the frequent occurrence of anxiety disorders, which can negatively affect the mother's quality of life and fetal development. Health perception, on the other hand, is an important concept that shapes individuals' health behaviors and responsibilities. However, studies examining the relationship between cyberchondria, anxiety levels, and health perception in pregnant women are limited. This study aims to reveal the relationship between health information-seeking behaviors, health perception, and anxiety levels in this special population of pregnant women.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- pregnant women
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Must be 18 years or older, pregnant, have access to the internet at any time, and have the ability to use it.
- Must be proficient in Turkish to understand the scales.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Having a diagnosed psychiatric illness,
- Being a healthcare worker,
- Having cognitive impairment or mental or physical limitations to the extent that they cannot understand questions.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire and Physical ExamParticipants will be administered the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12), Health Perception Scale, and State and Trait Anxiety Scale online via Google form. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
The Cyberchondria Severity Scale
Time frame: 1 month
The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) was originally developed by McElroy and Shevlin (2014) to evaluate cyberchondria, defined as a form of anxiety characterized by excessive health-related information seeking on the internet. Subsequently, McElroy et al. (2019) introduced the short form of the scale, the CSS-12. The Turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability study of the CSS-12 was conducted by Söyler et al. (2021). The CSS-12 consists of 12 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). Total scores are calculated by summing all item responses, with possible scores ranging from 12 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater severity of cyberchondria. The scale does not contain any reverse-coded items. The CSS-12 comprises four subdimensions: excessiveness, distress, reassurance-seeking, and compulsion.
The Health Perception Scale
Time frame: 1 month
The Health Perception Scale (HPS) was developed by Diamond et al. in 2007 to assess individuals' perceptions of their own health. The Turkish adaptation, including validity and reliability testing, was conducted by Kadıoğlu et al. in 2012. The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale, with response options ranging from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." Negative items are reverse-coded (Strongly Disagree = 5 to Strongly Agree = 1). The scale includes four subdimensions: central control, self-awareness, certainty, and importance of health. Total scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores reflecting a more positive health perception. Participants indicate their agreement with each item, allowing researchers to quantify their overall health perception and examine its relationship with other psychosocial variables.
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Time frame: 1 month
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was originally adapted into Turkish by Öner and Le Compte between 1974 and 1977 to evaluate anxiety levels in both adolescent and adult Turkish populations. The inventory is widely used in research involving young and adult groups. The State Anxiety Scale items assess the intensity of feelings or behaviors in response to specific situations, with responses rated on a 4-point scale: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Somewhat, 3 = Much, 4 = Completely. The Trait Anxiety Scale items evaluate the frequency of feelings or behaviors over time, with response options: 1 = Almost never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Almost always. The State Anxiety Scale consists of both direct items (3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18) and reverse-scored items (1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20). Similarly, the Trait Anxiety Scale includes direct items (22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40) and reverse-scored items (21, 26, 27, 30,
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Cyberchondria
Not yet recruiting
The Effect of Structured Health Information-Seeking Training on Cyberchondria and E-Health Literacy in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Perimenopause, Postmenopause
RecruitingObservational study
Cyberchondria and Stress in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment
Cyberchondria, Stress
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Tarik OZMEN, PhD study chair
Karabuk University
Nesibe Sumeyye KUTAHYALIOGLU, PhD principal investigator
Karabuk University
Nurcan CONTARLI, PhD principal investigator
Karabuk University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Cyberchondria and Pregnancy, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (time frame: 1 month). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.