Publication:

Online health search behaviour and cyberchondria severity among medical students: a dose-response study

Background Cyberchondria- compulsive online health searching that amplifies health anxiety- is increasingly reported among medical undergraduates, yet its severity distribution and dose-response pattern remain poorly characterized in south Indian populations. This study assessed cyberchondria severity, its dose-response association with online health search behaviour, and associated socio-demographic and behavioural factors among MBBS students.

Methods Cross-sectional study of 100 MBBS students at a government medical college in south India. The validated CSS-15 (α=0.755) was administered online. Dose-response analysis used one-way ANOVA with eta-squared and Spearman correlation; factors independently associated with CSS-15 severity were identified by multiple linear regression.

Results Mean CSS-15 score was 18.07±8.29 (range 0-37). A clear dose-response gradient emerged: scores rose from 11.54±6.52 (rarely searching) to 25.14±8.36 (always searching)- a 13.6-point increase (F(3,96) =13.06, p<0.001; η2=0.290; Spearman ρ=0.513, p<0.001). Online search frequency (β=4.95, p<0.001) and hostel residence (β=3.82, p=0.008) were independently associated with CSS-15 severity, together explaining 31.8% of the variance in CSS-15 scores (R2=0.318). Excessiveness was the predominant subscale (mean 5.37±2.83).

Conclusions Online health search frequency showed a significant graded association with cyberchondria severity. Hostel residence was independently associated with higher CSS-15 scores. These findings point to practical intervention targets: search-frequency reduction strategies and hostel-specific digital health literacy programmes within undergraduate medical curricula.