Prevalence and effect of cyberchondria on academic performance among undergraduate dental students: An institutional based study.

Background: Cyberchondria has been used to describe an increase in anxiety about one's health status as a result of excessive online searches. These online health research studies were associated with a small but reliable increase in depression and anxiety which may decrease concentration of a student on academics.

Methods: The questionnaire was distributed among 302 undergraduate dental students (second year, third year, fourth year, and interns) of Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital.