virrac
Abstract
The thinking behind this book evolved as a result of my persistent efforts to understand the behavior behind searching for diseases and conditions on the internet. I have been thinking about writing about cyberchondria for some time now. As a researcher who has produced academic content in media, com-munication sciences, and cinema, it was impossible to remain indifferent to a situation that has beenso totally influenced by digitalization. IGI Global seemed to be the best choice to produce a book onthe study of cyberchondria, defined as health-related information-seeking behavior online; IGI has an interdisciplinary perspective and is an international publisher which would ensure global reach. When I uploaded the project proposal to the system, the doors of a difficult, time-consuming but ultimatelyvery productive process opened for me. Firstly, I tried to reach out to academic researchers who have published in the area of cyberchondria. In a study titled Handbook of Research on Cyberchondria, Health Literacy, and the Role of Media inSociety’s Perception of Medical Information, the support of an expert cyberpsychologist would be atremendous asset. I reached out to Professor Aiken, and this is how our paths crossed; she is now a dear colleague. I would like to thank her for her positive approach, productive contributions, companionship, and sincere friendship in this process of editing this book. This book was produced by contributions from expert researchers worldwide, in fact, from eleven different countries, including the USA, UK, Singapore, Greece, Ireland, Aruba, Indonesia, Turkey, Scot-land, Croatia, and India. This broad range of contributors offered an opportunity to gain international perspectives, and in doing so, make versatile and worth while contributions to the literature. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this project, particularly IGI Global Development Team members Katie McLoughlin and Crystal Moyer, members of the editorialboard, and referees who participated in the review process. This book would not have been possible without their help. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to each of the authors for their efforts to contribute to this work. The authors who contributed their time and specialisation to this book include (in alphabeti-cal order) Afkar Aulia, Ahmet Çetinkaya, Ahmet Yalçın Kaya, Aleksandar Dusic, Ali Kandeğer, Ali Murat Kırık, Anastasios Arampatzis, Anita Z Goldschmied, Annu Minhas, Aylin Tutgun Ünal, Branka Bagaric, Budi Pratiti, Cengiz Apaydın, Çiçek Topçu, Dean-David Holyoake, Denelle Mohammed, Diane M. Janosek, Doug Witschi, Fırat Ata, Hacer Aker, Hemamali Tennakoon, Işık Tuncel, Joel Ehis Adada, Jolanta Burke, Louise O ‘Hagan, Luckner Roseme, Majella Dempsey, Mary Aiken, Mary Pennington, Natasa Jokic-Begic, Nevzat Tarhan, Nicole Walters, Olha Huzo, Rana Zeine, Ruby Farr, Rukiye Tek-demir, Sana Dhamija, Sara Wilcox, Şebnem Ceylan Apaydın, Siobhan Eithne McCarthy, Suprakash Chaudhury, Yavuz Selvi and Yücel Ekinci. As editors, we would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the reviewers regarding theim provement of quality, coherence, and content presentation of chapters. Most of the authors also servedas referees; we highly appreciate their double task. Finally, in addition to those mentioned as researchers and authors in this book, there are many otherswho have provided support. It’s important to mention as this book would not be possible without them.I have enjoyed the editing process - I hope you the reader enjoy our book. Hacer Aker Selcuk University, Turkey October 25, 2021
