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

NCT06800456 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 337

Last updated 2025-01-30

No results posted yet for this study

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Acibadem University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Merve Coşkun, phd · Acibadem University

  • İrem Nur Özdemir, phd · Bakirköy Dr.Sadi Konuk Trainng and Research Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
49 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-06-01
Primary Completion
2024-12-01
Completion
2024-12-01

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06800456 on ClinicalTrials.gov