Effect of Health Information Seeking Behavior on Health Anxiety: Study of COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted mental health, leading to psychiatric complications such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Health anxiety, a perceived threat to one's health, increased during the pandemic, influencing individuals'; health informationseeking behavior. This study explores the relationship between health anxiety and health information- seeking behavior among COVID-19 patients. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman, Iran, from September 2021 to July 2022. A total of 288 COVID-19 patients participated through convenience sampling. Data were collected via a validated online questionnaire consisting of three sections: demographic information, health information-seeking behavior (39 items), and health anxiety (Short Form Health Anxiety Inventory). The study utilized descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square, ANOVA, and logistic regression for data analysis. Results: The mean total health anxiety score was 22.95±6.36, indicating significant anxiety levels among participants. Regression analysis revealed that information sources, needs, and barriers significantly influenced health anxiety. Notably, national television and consultation with other patients were predictors of health anxiety. Moreover, difficulty distinguishing trustworthy information from misinformation and limited time for information search were significant barriers associated with increased anxiety. Conclusion: The findings suggest a bi-directional relationship between health anxiety and information- seeking behavior. High-quality, timely healthcare information is crucial to alleviate health anxiety during pandemics. Future studies should focus on reducing anxiety through psychological interventions and improving digital health literacy to mitigate misinformation and its psychological impact.