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NCT Number: NCT07834216

The Effect of Structured Health Information-Seeking Training on Cyberchondria and E-Health Literacy in Menopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled study will examine whether two different forms of structured health information-seeking education can help women in perimenopause or postmenopause use online health information more effectively. It will assess whether video-based education and Pecha Kucha-based education reduce cyberchondria, which refers to repeated online health searches that may increase health-related worry, and improve e-health literacy and knowledge about menopause.

The study will include 60 women aged 40 to 65 years. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to a video-based education group, a Pecha Kucha-based education group, or a control group, with 20 participants in each group. The education will cover how to identify reliable online health sources, evaluate health information, recognize misleading content, use effective search methods, and avoid online searching behaviors that may increase anxiety. The control group will not receive structured education during the study period. Outcomes will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one month later. The findings will help determine which educational method is more effective in supporting safe and informed online health information-seeking among women during the menopausal transition.

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Key information

Conditions

Perimenopause Cyberchondria E-health Literacy Postmenopause

Age range

45 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The increasing use of the internet as a source of health information may help women access information about menopause, but it may also expose them to inaccurate, misleading, or anxiety-provoking content. Repeated online searching for symptoms and diseases may increase health-related worry and contribute to cyberchondria. Therefore, the ability to find, understand, evaluate, and appropriately use online health information is particularly important during the menopausal transition.

This study is designed as a three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of video-based and Pecha Kucha-based structured health information-seeking education among women in perimenopause or postmenopause. A total of 60 women will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the video-based education group, the Pecha Kucha-based education group, or the control group. Each group will include 20 participants.

Participants in the video-based education group will receive structured health information-seeking education through a video. Participants in the Pecha Kucha-based education group will receive structured education through a concise, visually focused Pecha Kucha presentation. Both educational approaches will address the benefits and risks of seeking health information online, methods for identifying reliable sources, evaluation of authorship and scientific evidence, recognition of advertising and misleading content, effective search strategies, verification of information across multiple sources, and strategies for limiting repetitive online searches that may increase anxiety. The control group will not receive structured health information-seeking education during the study period.

Data will be collected from all three groups at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one month after the intervention. The study will examine changes in cyberchondria severity, e-health literacy, and menopause knowledge over time. Changes will be compared among the video-based education, Pecha Kucha-based education, and control groups. The findings will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of the two educational approaches and help determine which method better supports safe and informed online health information-seeking during the menopausal transition.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 40 to 65 years
  • Being in the perimenopausal or postmenopausal period
  • Able to read and understand Turkish
  • Having experience using a smartphone, the internet, or social media
  • Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder
  • Having a neurological disorder that affects cognitive functioning
  • Having a hearing or visual impairment that prevents effective communication or participation
  • Having a severe health condition that prevents regular participation in the study

Treatment and study plan

Video-Based Health Information-Seeking Education

Other

Video-Based Health Information-Seeking Education: Participants will receive structured health information-seeking education through an educational video. The video will explain the benefits and risks of searching for health information online; how to assess the author, institution, publication date, and scientific basis of online content; how to recognize advertisements, commercial content, sensational headlines, and misleading social media information; how to use appropriate search terms and verify information across multiple reliable sources; and how to limit repetitive searches that may increase health-related anxiety. The video format allows the educational content to be delivered in a standardized audiovisual format.

Pecha Kucha-Based Health Information-Seeking Education

Other

Pecha Kucha-Based Health Information-Seeking Education: Participants will receive structured health information-seeking education using the Pecha Kucha presentation format. The presentation will consist of 20 visually focused slides, each displayed automatically for

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form Score

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention

    Cyberchondria will be assessed using the 12-item Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form (CSS-12). The scale evaluates excessive online health searches, distress, reassurance seeking, and compulsive searching. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale. Total scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater cyberchondria severity. Changes in scores will be compared among the video-based education, Pecha Kucha-based education, and control groups.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in E-Health Literacy Scale Score

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention

    E-health literacy will be assessed using the E-Health Literacy Scale. The scale evaluates participants' perceived ability to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information obtained from electronic sources. The eight scored items are rated on a 5-point scale, producing a total score ranging from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate greater e-health literacy. Changes in scores will be compared among the three study groups.

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Menopause Knowledge Scale Score

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after the intervention

    Knowledge about menopause will be assessed using the 14-item Menopause Knowledge Scale. The scale includes two domains: general menopause knowledge and knowledge of menopausal symptoms and their management. Total scores range from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater menopause knowledge. Changes in scores will be compared among the three study groups.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Merve TUNCER, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905375048017

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University

Other

Collaborators

  • Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2027
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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