The Effect of Structured Health Information-Seeking Training on Cyberchondria and E-Health Literacy in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
1 other identifier
interventional
60
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
This randomized controlled study will examine whether two different forms of structured health information-seeking education can help women in perimenopause or postmenopause use online health information more effectively. It will assess whether video-based education and Pecha Kucha-based education reduce cyberchondria, which refers to repeated online health searches that may increase health-related worry, and improve e-health literacy and knowledge about menopause. The study will include 60 women aged 40 to 65 years. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to a video-based education group, a Pecha Kucha-based education group, or a control group, with 20 participants in each group. The education will cover how to identify reliable online health sources, evaluate health information, recognize misleading content, use effective search methods, and avoid online searching behaviors that may increase anxiety. The control group will not receive structured education during the study period. Outcomes will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one month later. The findings will help determine which educational method is more effective in supporting safe and informed online health information-seeking among women during the menopausal transition.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started Jan 2027
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 17, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
September 22, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 24, 2027
ExpectedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 30, 2027
Study Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 1, 2027
September 22, 2026
September 1, 2026
2 months
September 17, 2026
September 17, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form Score
Cyberchondria will be assessed using the 12-item Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form (CSS-12). The scale evaluates excessive online health searches, distress, reassurance seeking, and compulsive searching. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale. Total scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater cyberchondria severity. Changes in scores will be compared among the video-based education, Pecha Kucha-based education, and control groups.
Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Change in E-Health Literacy Scale Score
Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention
Other Outcomes (1)
Change in Menopause Knowledge Scale Score
Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention
Study Arms (3)
Video-Based Education Group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive structured health information-seeking education delivered through a video.
Pecha Kucha-Based Education Group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive structured health information-seeking education delivered using the Pecha Kucha presentation format.
Control Group
NO INTERVENTIONParticipants will not receive structured health information-seeking education during the study period. They will complete the assessments at the same time points as the intervention groups.
Interventions
Video-Based Health Information-Seeking Education: Participants will receive structured health information-seeking education through an educational video. The video will explain the benefits and risks of searching for health information online; how to assess the author, institution, publication date, and scientific basis of online content; how to recognize advertisements, commercial content, sensational headlines, and misleading social media information; how to use appropriate search terms and verify information across multiple reliable sources; and how to limit repetitive searches that may increase health-related anxiety. The video format allows the educational content to be delivered in a standardized audiovisual format.
Pecha Kucha-Based Health Information-Seeking Education: Participants will receive structured health information-seeking education using the Pecha Kucha presentation format. The presentation will consist of 20 visually focused slides, each displayed automatically for
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Aged 40 to 65 years
- Being in the perimenopausal or postmenopausal period
- Able to read and understand Turkish
- Having experience using a smartphone, the internet, or social media
- Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if:
- Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder
- Having a neurological disorder that affects cognitive functioning
- Having a hearing or visual impairment that prevents effective communication or participation
- Having a severe health condition that prevents regular participation in the study
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Related Publications (1)
Fu Y, Han P, Wang J, Shahzad F. Digital pathways to healthcare: a systematic review for unveiling the trends and insights in online health information-seeking behavior. Front Public Health. 2025 Feb 12;13:1497025. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1497025. eCollection 2025.
PMID: 40013047RESULT
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- OTHER
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Asistant Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 17, 2026
First Posted
September 22, 2026
Study Start (Estimated)
January 24, 2027
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 30, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2027
Last Updated
September 22, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-09
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers because the data contain personal health information and external data sharing is not included in the current study protocol and ethical approval. Study findings will be reported only in aggregate form to protect participant confidentiality.