Background: With the development of the internet, health care websites have become increasingly important by enabling easy access to health information, thereby influencing the attitudes and behaviors of individuals toward health issues. However, few studies have addressed public access to health information and self-diagnosis.
Objective: This study investigated the background factors and status of cyberchondria severity among college students by conducting a nationwide sample survey using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale. Further, we explored the perspective of eHealth literacy of those with scores higher than 1 SD from the mean by analyzing their recent experiences using web-based health information.
Methods: A nationally representative sample of college students was surveyed, and 802 valid responses were obtained (male: 435/802, 54.2%; female: 367/802, 45.8%; mean age 20.3, SD 1.4 years). The Cyberchondria Severity Scale was used, which consisted of 4 dimensions (increased anxiety, obsessive-compulsive hypochondria, perceived controllability, and web-based physician-patient interaction). Additionally, we recruited 9 volunteers who scored more than 1 SD above the mean for in-depth interviews on their web-based health information-seeking behaviors.
Results: Significant differences were found across the 4 dimensions of cyberchondria severity (F3,2403=256.26; P<.001), with perceived controllability scoring the highest (mean 2.75, SD 0.87) and obsessive-compulsive hypochondria scoring the lowest (mean 2.19, SD 0.77). Positive correlations were observed between perceived controllability, web-based physician-patient interactions, increased anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive hypochondria (r=0.46-0.75, P<.001). Regression analysis indicated that health concern significantly predicted perceived controllability (β coefficient=0.12; P<.05) and web-based physician-patient interaction (β coefficient=0.16; P<.001). Interview data revealed that students often experienced heightened anxiety (8/9, 89%) and stress (7/9, 78%) after exposure to web-based health information, highlighting the need for improved health literacy and reliable information sources.
Conclusions: The study identified both benefits and risks in college students' use of web-based health information, emphasizing the importance of critical consciousness and eHealth literacy. Future research should examine how college students move from self-awareness to actionable change and the development of critical health literacy, which are essential for effective digital health engagement.
Background: Opioid medications are important for pain management, but many patients progress to unsafe medication use. With few personalized and accessible behavioral treatment options to reduce potential opioid-related harm, new and innovative patient-centered approaches are urgently needed to fill this gap.
Objective: This study involved the first phase of co-designing a digital brief intervention to reduce the risk of opioid-related harm by investigating the lived experience of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) in treatment-seeking patients, with a particular focus on opioid therapy experiences.
Methods: Eligible patients were those aged between 18 and 70 years with CNCP at a clinically significant level of intensity (a score of ≥4 of 10). Purposive sampling was used to engage patients on public hospital waitlists via mail or through the treating medical specialist. Participants (N=18; n=10 women; mean age 49.5 years, SD 11.50) completed semistructured telephone interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, thematically analyzed using grounded theory, and member checked by patients.
Results: Eight overarching themes were found, listed in the order of their prominence from most to least prominent: limited treatment collaboration and partnership; limited biopsychosocial understanding of pain; continued opioid use when benefits do not outweigh harms; a trial-and-error approach to opioid use; cycles of hopefulness and hopelessness; diagnostic uncertainty; significant negative impacts tied to loss; and complexity of pain and opioid use journeys.
Conclusions: The findings of this study advance progress in co-designing digital brief interventions by actively engaging patient partners in their lived experiences of chronic pain and use of prescription opioid medications. The key recommendations proposed should guide the development of personalized solutions to address the complex care needs of patients with CNCP.
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