The Role of Cyberchondria Severity in the Relationship Between HPV Awareness and Vaccination Attitudes in Adult Women

NCT06800456 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024-7-268
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 337
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection linked to nearly all cases (99%) of cervical cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination is effective in preventing these cancers, complemented by HPV screening and treatment of precancerous lesions. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 through focused efforts on vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment. Primary prevention strategies include reducing sexual risk factors and administering prophylactic vaccines. Despite awareness of HPV testing, many women lack understanding of its importance and fail to follow through with screenings and necessary treatments. Overall societal awareness of HPV remains inadequate. Studies reveal disparities in HPV vaccine awareness: while 60.7% of women have heard of the vaccine, only 1% have received it. Awareness varies widely across regions, with Turkey reporting rates from 3.8% to 57%, and vaccine awareness ranging from 2.2% to 74.7% (Özdemir et al., 2020). In the UK, concerns over potential negative results lead many women to defer HPV testing. Health anxiety, defined as interpreting minor symptoms as serious health issues, drives individuals to seek excessive online health information, a phenomenon known as cyberchondria. Studies link cyberchondria with heightened health anxiety, exacerbated by prolonged internet searches. Barriers to HPV screening and vaccination include fear of side effects, lack of information, cost concerns, and anxiety over potential outcomes. While women testing positive for HPV show higher levels of cyberchondria, no direct correlation has been established between cyberchondria severity and HPV awareness or vaccination attitudes in adult women. This summary encapsulates the key findings and insights from the referenced studies on HPV, vaccination, and health anxiety.

Conditions

Human Papillomavirus Infection; HPV Vaccines; Cyberchondria; Awareness; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Introduction Information Forum

  This form, prepared by researchers in accordance with the literature, includes general questions about women's sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive health, and health-seeking behaviors. The form consists of a total of 32 questions

  Upon presentation to the clinic

• Human Papilloma Virus Awareness and Concern Scale for Women (Women HPV-ACS)

  Developed by Esencan et al. (2023), this scale aims to measure awareness and concern levels related to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The scale comprises 19 items organized into three subscales. Scores range from 0 to 76, with higher scores indicating greater awareness of HPV. The subscales include: Concerns about health (items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14), Concerns about social exclusion (items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19), and Awareness (items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Definitely disagree) to 4 (Definitely agree). The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient for the scale is 0.905 (Esencan et al., 2023)

  Upon presentation to the clinic

• Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-SF)

  Developed by McElroy and Shevlin in 2019 and validated by Yam et al. (2023), the CSS-SF consists of 12 items assessing the severity of online symptom searching behaviors related to health concerns. The scale includes four subscales: Excessiveness, Distress, Reassurance-seeking, and Compulsion. Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). Total scores range from 5 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of cyberchondria. The total Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for the scale is 0.89, with subscale Cronbach's Alpha values ranging as follows: 0.83, 0.79, 0.70, 0.80 (Yam et al., 2023). These descriptions outline the key measures used in the study to assess awareness and concern levels regarding HPV and severity of cyberchondria among women.

  Upon presentation to the clinic

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 49 Years
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

The study includes women aged 18-49 years, who have completed at least elementary school education. The study aims to explore awareness and concern levels regarding HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) among women within the specified age range and educational background.

You may qualify if:

• Women aged 18-49 years old
• At least elementary school education

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders
• Women who are HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) positive
• Any condition that would hinder communication (e.g., language barrier)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Acibadem University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Güzin Ünlü Suvari

Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (16)

• Agrawal V, Khulbe Y, Singh A, Kar SK. The digital health dilemma: Exploring cyberchondria, well-being, and smartphone addiction in medical and non-medical undergraduates. Indian J Psychiatry. 2024 Mar;66(3):256-262. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_570_23. Epub 2024 Mar 18.

  PMID: 39100122 BACKGROUND

• Barke A, Bleichhardt G, Rief W, Doering BK. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS): German Validation and Development of a Short Form. Int J Behav Med. 2016 Oct;23(5):595-605. doi: 10.1007/s12529-016-9549-8.

  PMID: 26931780 BACKGROUND

• Baumgartner SE, Hartmann T. The role of health anxiety in online health information search. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2011 Oct;14(10):613-8. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2010.0425. Epub 2011 May 6.

  PMID: 21548797 BACKGROUND

• Dany M, Chidiac A, Nassar AH. Human papillomavirus vaccination: assessing knowledge, attitudes, and intentions of college female students in Lebanon, a developing country. Vaccine. 2015 Feb 18;33(8):1001-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.01.009. Epub 2015 Jan 15.

  PMID: 25597945 BACKGROUND

• Eskisu M, Cam Z, Boysan M. Health-Related Cognitions and Metacognitions Indirectly Contribute to the Relationships Between Impulsivity, Fear of COVID-19, and Cyberchondria. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther. 2023 Jan 9:1-23. doi: 10.1007/s10942-022-00495-7. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 36687465 BACKGROUND

• Guvenc G, Seven M, Akyuz A. Health Belief Model Scale for Human Papilloma Virus and its Vaccination: Adaptation and Psychometric Testing. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2016 Jun;29(3):252-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2015.09.007. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

  PMID: 26409648 BACKGROUND

• Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Lewis R, Clements A, Damery S, Neal RD, Adke R, Weller D, Campbell C, Patnick J, Sasieni P, Hurt C, Wilson S, Wilkinson C. Are women ready for the new cervical screening protocol in England? A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of views about human papillomavirus testing. Br J Cancer. 2012 Jul 10;107(2):243-54. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.256. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

  PMID: 22699825 BACKGROUND

• Mousavi, T., Rezapour, M., Moosazadeh, M., Ghaffari, N., & Nazari, Z. (2023). The relationship between the level of knowledge about human papillomavirus and the level of anxiety and sexual satisfaction in women with a positive HPV test. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 33(2), 329-334.

  BACKGROUND

• Norr AM, Allan NP, Boffa JW, Raines AM, Schmidt NB. Validation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS): replication and extension with bifactor modeling. J Anxiety Disord. 2015 Apr;31:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Feb 14.

  PMID: 25734759 BACKGROUND

• Ozdemir S, Akkaya R, Karasahin KE. Analysis of community-based studies related with knowledge, awareness, attitude, and behaviors towards HPV and HPV vaccine published in Turkey: A systematic review. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2020 Jun 8;21(2):111-123. doi: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2019.2019.0071. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

  PMID: 31397145 BACKGROUND

• Patel H, Moss EL, Sherman SM. HPV primary cervical screening in England: Women's awareness and attitudes. Psychooncology. 2018 Jun;27(6):1559-1564. doi: 10.1002/pon.4694. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

  PMID: 29521462 BACKGROUND

• Starcevic V, Schimmenti A, Billieux J, Berle D. Cyberchondria in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hum Behav Emerg Technol. 2021 Jan;3(1):53-62. doi: 10.1002/hbe2.233. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

  PMID: 33363277 BACKGROUND

• Turhan Cakir A. Cyberchondria levels in women with human papilloma virus. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022 Oct;48(10):2610-2614. doi: 10.1111/jog.15354. Epub 2022 Jul 8.

  PMID: 35801694 BACKGROUND

• World Health Organization. (2021). WHO guideline for screening and treatment of cervical precancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014107

  BACKGROUND

• Yılmaz, B., Hat, B. N., Yürekli, Y., & Oskay, Ü. (2021). Genç erişkinlerin human papilloma virüs (HPV) ve hpv aşısına ilişkin bilgi ve görüşleri: Kesitsel bir çalışma. KOU Sag Bil Derg, 7(2), 138-148.

  BACKGROUND

• Coskun M, Unlu Suvari G, Ozdemir IN. Role of cyberchondria severity in the relationship between HPV awareness and vaccination status among adult women. BMC Public Health. 2025 Dec 17. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25938-5. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41408614 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Papillomavirus Infections; Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Communicable Diseases; Infections; DNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Tumor Virus Infections; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Merve Coşkun, phd

  Acibadem University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• İrem Nur Özdemir, phd

  Bakirköy Dr.Sadi Konuk Trainng and Research Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 17, 2024
• First Posted: January 30, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2024
• Last Updated: January 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Locations

TU (1)