V1: Health-related internet use among primary care attenders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Health Anxiety, Health-Related Internet Use and Health Service Utilisation among Primary Care Attenders
IRAS ID
168711
Contact name
Niamh Skelly
Contact email
Research summary
People who are 'health anxious' worry a lot about their health. They notice feelings in their body and worry these feelings mean they are ill. They worry so much that it has a negative effect on their lives. Health anxious individuals tend to make frequent visits to doctors. Previous research has shown that the more people worry about their heath, the more they use the internet to research health. For example, they look up what different symptoms might mean or read about diseases. We know from past studies that using the internet in this way can increase health anxiety. Past studies have involved students. It is important to carry out new studies with other groups. Our study will involve people who are going to see their GP. Taking part will involve answering questions about health anxiety and about using the internet. There will also be questions about how often participants use health services and about their mood. Participants can answer these questions on paper in their GP surgery or elsewhere, in their own time. They can also answer the questions on a computer in their own time. Answering all the question will take around 25 minutes. It is important to understand how health anxiety and internet use are linked. Understanding this link may help improve treatments for health anxiety. Our study might show that people who worry lots about health should change how they use the internet. Treatments can then be created to help them change their internet use. If people experience less health anxiety, they may experience better quality of life and make fewer unnecessary visits to doctors.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0361
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion