Cyberchondria and the surgeon: We explore the myriad impacts of patient cyberchondria on a surgeon's practice and wellbeing and how to address this phenomenon.

This article explores the impact of cyberchondria, which refers to the anxiety caused by online searches for health information, on surgeons' practices and well-being. The rise in the availability of online health-related information and the use of web-based symptom checker applications have contributed to the increase in cyberchondria. Excessive and repeated internet searches related to patients' perceived health conditions can lead to increased health anxiety. Surgeons need to be aware of the pitfalls of cyberchondria and navigate communication with patients sensitively. It is important to provide accurate and valuable information to combat cyberchondria and manage patient expectations. A multidisciplinary approach, including patient awareness and digital literacy, can help address cyberchondria and promote healthy boundaries of digital self-help. [Extracted from the article]