Parents’ cyberchondria, digital literacy levels, and their relationship with attitudes toward traditional complementary medicine

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between cyberchondria and digital literacy levels of parents of children aged 0–18 years and their attitudes toward traditional complementary medicine. This crosssectional study was conducted. The dependent variable was the score on the Complementary, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine Attitude Scale (CACMAS). The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), and Digital Literacy Scale (DLS) scores. According to the linear regression analysis, CACMAS scores were significantly higher among those whose fathers were unemployed and whose mothers were primary school graduates (p<0.05). Additionally, the CACMAS scores increased as the child’s age decreased, DLS decreased, hospital visits occurred later in the day, and CSS increased (p<0.05). Both a decrease in digital literacy and an increase in cyberchondria led to higher CAM attitudes.