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Human Papillomavirus InfectionNCT06800456

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

An observational study of Human Papillomavirus Infection and HPV Vaccines, run by Acibadem University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 49 years, women only
How many people
337 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Jun 2024to 1 Dec 2024
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 49 years
  • Women only
  • Adult

Study population: The study includes women aged 18-49 years, who have completed at least elementary school education. The study aims to explore awareness and concern levels regarding HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) among women within the specified age range and educational background.

Who may be able to join

  • Women aged 18-49 years old
  • At least elementary school education

Who cannot join

  • Individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders
  • Women who are HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) positive
  • Any condition that would hinder communication (e.g., language barrier)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Güzin Ünlü Suvari

    Ataşehir, Istanbul

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

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.

Read more

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.

Medical subject headings
Papillomavirus Infections, Behavior

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Introduction Information Forum

    This form, prepared by researchers in accordance with the literature, includes general questions about women's sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive health, and health-seeking behaviors. The form consists of a total of 32 questions

    Measured: Upon presentation to the clinic

  2. Human Papilloma Virus Awareness and Concern Scale for Women (Women HPV-ACS)

    Developed by Esencan et al. (2023), this scale aims to measure awareness and concern levels related to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The scale comprises 19 items organized into three subscales. Scores range from 0 to 76, with higher scores indicating greater awareness of HPV. The subscales include: Concerns about health (items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14), Concerns about social exclusion (items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19), and Awareness (items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Definitely disagree) to 4 (Definitely agree). The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient for the scale is 0.905 (Esencan et al., 2023)

    Measured: Upon presentation to the clinic

  3. Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-SF)

    Developed by McElroy and Shevlin in 2019 and validated by Yam et al. (2023), the CSS-SF consists of 12 items assessing the severity of online symptom searching behaviors related to health concerns. The scale includes four subscales: Excessiveness, Distress, Reassurance-seeking, and Compulsion. Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). Total scores range from 5 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of cyberchondria. The total Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for the scale is 0.89, with subscale Cronbach's Alpha values ranging as follows: 0.83, 0.79, 0.70, 0.80 (Yam et al., 2023).

    These descriptions outline the key measures used in the study to assess awareness and concern levels regarding HPV and severity of cyberchondria among women.

    Measured: Upon presentation to the clinic

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Jan 2025
  2. Study start1 Jun 2024
  3. Primary completion1 Dec 2024
  4. Study completion1 Dec 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
337 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06800456
Sponsor's protocol ID
2024-7-268
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
17 Jul 2024
Last updated
30 Jan 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Agrawal V, Khulbe Y, Singh A, Kar SK. The digital health dilemma: Exploring cyberchondria, well-being, and smartphone addiction in medical and non-medical undergraduates. Indian J Psychiatry. 2024 Mar;66(3):256-262. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_570_23. Epub 2024 Mar 18.

    PubMed 39100122
  • Barke A, Bleichhardt G, Rief W, Doering BK. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS): German Validation and Development of a Short Form. Int J Behav Med. 2016 Oct;23(5):595-605. doi: 10.1007/s12529-016-9549-8.

    PubMed 26931780
  • Baumgartner SE, Hartmann T. The role of health anxiety in online health information search. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2011 Oct;14(10):613-8. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2010.0425. Epub 2011 May 6.

    PubMed 21548797
  • Dany M, Chidiac A, Nassar AH. Human papillomavirus vaccination: assessing knowledge, attitudes, and intentions of college female students in Lebanon, a developing country. Vaccine. 2015 Feb 18;33(8):1001-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.01.009. Epub 2015 Jan 15.

    PubMed 25597945
  • Eskisu M, Cam Z, Boysan M. Health-Related Cognitions and Metacognitions Indirectly Contribute to the Relationships Between Impulsivity, Fear of COVID-19, and Cyberchondria. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther. 2023 Jan 9:1-23. doi: 10.1007/s10942-022-00495-7. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 36687465
  • Guvenc G, Seven M, Akyuz A. Health Belief Model Scale for Human Papilloma Virus and its Vaccination: Adaptation and Psychometric Testing. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2016 Jun;29(3):252-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2015.09.007. Epub 2015 Sep 26.

    PubMed 26409648
  • Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Lewis R, Clements A, Damery S, Neal RD, Adke R, Weller D, Campbell C, Patnick J, Sasieni P, Hurt C, Wilson S, Wilkinson C. Are women ready for the new cervical screening protocol in England? A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of views about human papillomavirus testing. Br J Cancer. 2012 Jul 10;107(2):243-54. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.256. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

    PubMed 22699825
  • Mousavi, T., Rezapour, M., Moosazadeh, M., Ghaffari, N., & Nazari, Z. (2023). The relationship between the level of knowledge about human papillomavirus and the level of anxiety and sexual satisfaction in women with a positive HPV test. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 33(2), 329-334.

  • Norr AM, Allan NP, Boffa JW, Raines AM, Schmidt NB. Validation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS): replication and extension with bifactor modeling. J Anxiety Disord. 2015 Apr;31:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Feb 14.

    PubMed 25734759
  • Ozdemir S, Akkaya R, Karasahin KE. Analysis of community-based studies related with knowledge, awareness, attitude, and behaviors towards HPV and HPV vaccine published in Turkey: A systematic review. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2020 Jun 8;21(2):111-123. doi: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2019.2019.0071. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

    PubMed 31397145
  • Patel H, Moss EL, Sherman SM. HPV primary cervical screening in England: Women's awareness and attitudes. Psychooncology. 2018 Jun;27(6):1559-1564. doi: 10.1002/pon.4694. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

    PubMed 29521462
  • Starcevic V, Schimmenti A, Billieux J, Berle D. Cyberchondria in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hum Behav Emerg Technol. 2021 Jan;3(1):53-62. doi: 10.1002/hbe2.233. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

    PubMed 33363277
  • Turhan Cakir A. Cyberchondria levels in women with human papilloma virus. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022 Oct;48(10):2610-2614. doi: 10.1111/jog.15354. Epub 2022 Jul 8.

    PubMed 35801694
  • World Health Organization. (2021). WHO guideline for screening and treatment of cervical precancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014107

  • Yılmaz, B., Hat, B. N., Yürekli, Y., & Oskay, Ü. (2021). Genç erişkinlerin human papilloma virüs (HPV) ve hpv aşısına ilişkin bilgi ve görüşleri: Kesitsel bir çalışma. KOU Sag Bil Derg, 7(2), 138-148.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Human Papillomavirus Infection and HPV Vaccines, run by Acibadem University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Introduction Information Forum (time frame: Upon presentation to the clinic). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06800456, which also lists 16 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jan 2025.

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