Cyberchondria in the Spinal Surgery Pathway: A Scoping Review of its Impact on Preoperative Distress and Postoperative Pain Outcomes.
Publication Title
Global Spine J
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-11-2026
Keywords
cyberchondria; nocebo effect; pain catastrophizing; scoping review; spine surgery; surgical fear.; washington; swedish; swedish neurosci
Abstract
Study DesignScoping review.ObjectiveTo map and synthesize the literature on associations between cyberchondria and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing spinal surgery.MethodsWe performed a scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Systematic searches of PubMed/Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were performed through October 2025 using terms for cyberchondria, online health searching, spine surgery, postoperative pain, and surgical fear. Two reviewers independently record and resolved disagreements with a third reviewer.ResultsOf 1527 records screened, three studies met the inclusion criteria. Internet use for health information ranged from 23.0% to 95.8% among spinal surgery patients, with frequent exposure to low-quality or misleading content. Higher maladaptive searching and cyberchondria were consistently associated with greater preoperative surgical fear and with pain catastrophizing; (Pearson r: 0.18). Seeking information about poor outcome linked to increased pain magnification and helplessness. Experimental and observational evidence indicate exposure to alarming medical information-for example, alarming phrasing in Magnetic Resonance Imaging or radiology reports can elicit a nocebo effect which could be linked to worse pain perception and poorer functional outcomes after surgery.ConclusionAmong patients on the spinal surgery pathway, cyberchondria appears to be a potentially important and modifiable risk factor associated with increased preoperative surgical fear and pain catastrophizing. This pattern may create a nocebo-primed state that may contribute to worse postoperative pain and functional recovery. Spine specialists should consider screening for maladaptive online health behaviors and routinely offer targeted, evidence-based preoperative information and counselling as part of multimodal surgical optimization.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Area of Special Interest
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Specialty/Research Institute
Orthopedics
Specialty/Research Institute
Surgery
DOI
10.1177/21925682261449789
