In Japan, risk behaviors for cancer remain inadequately controlled, often due to a lack of necessary information and support to guide consumers in cancer control decisions. The use of strategic health communication efforts based on social marketing has substantial potential to provide groups of consumers who are underinformed or misinformed with relevant cancer information, both to reinforce their cancer awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs and to strengthen behaviors to prevent cancer. The INFORM Study monitors these variables nationally and identifies populations most in need of cancerrelated information. A nationally representative crosssectional mail survey was used to investigate consumer behaviors related to cancer prevention and screening, as well as cancer knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, and access to and use of trusted cancer information. A total of 10,000 Japanese aged 20 years or older were selected by two-stage stratified random sampling. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of core items from the Health Information National Trends Survey in the United States with some additional items not covered in HINTS but important in Japan. This national survey is expected to play an important role in promoting effective dissemination of evidence-based recommendations.
Background In an aging society, worsening chronic diseases increase the burden on patients and the health care system. Using online health information including health information via social networking sites (SNSs), such as Facebook and YouTube, may play an important role in the self-management of chronic diseases and health promotion for internet users. Objective This study aims to improve strategies for promoting access to reliable information for the self-management of chronic diseases via the internet, and to identify populations facing barriers to using the internet for health, we examined chronic diseases and characteristics associated with online health information seeking and the use of SNSs. Methods This study used data from the INFORM Study 2020, which was a nationally representative cross-sectional postal mail survey conducted using a self-administered questionnaire in 2020. The dependent variables were online health information seeking and SNS use. Online health information seeking was assessed using 1 question about whether respondents used the internet to find health or medical information. SNS use was assessed by inquiring about the following 4 aspects: visiting SNSs, sharing health information on SNSs, writing in an online diary or blog, and watching a health-related video on YouTube. The independent variables were 8 chronic diseases. Other independent variables were sex, age, education status, work, marital status, household income, health literacy, and self-reported health status. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for all independent variables to examine the associations of chronic diseases and other variables with online health information seeking and SNS use. Results The final sample for analysis comprised 2481 internet users. Hypertension or high blood pressure, chronic lung diseases, depression or anxiety disorder, and cancer were reported by 24.5%, 10.1%, 7.7%, and 7.2% of respondents, respectively. The odds ratio of online health information seeking among respondents with cancer was 2.19 (95% CI 1.47-3.27) compared with that among those without cancer, and the odds ratio among those with depression or anxiety disorder was 2.27 (95% CI 1.46-3.53) compared with that among those without. Further, the odds ratio for watching a health-related YouTube video among those with chronic lung diseases was 1.42 (95% CI 1.05-1.93) compared with that among those without these diseases. Women, younger age, higher level of education, and high health literacy were positively associated with online health information seeking and SNS use. Conclusions For patients with cancer, strategies for promoting access to websites with reliable cancer-related information as well as access among patients with chronic lung diseases to YouTube videos providing reliable information may be beneficial for the management of these diseases. Moreover, it is important to improve the online environment to encourage men, older adults, internet users with lower education levels, and those with low health literacy to access online health information.
Background: Risk prediction models offer a promising approach to lifestyle modification. We evaluated the effect of personalized advice based on cancer risk prediction in improving five lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, salt intake, physical activity, and body mass index) compared with standard advice without risk prediction among a Japanese general population with at least one unhealthy lifestyle habit. Methods: In a parallel-design, single-blind, randomized controlled trial between February 2018 and July 2019, 5984 participants aged 40–64 years with unhealthy lifestyle habits were recruited from persons covered under a life insurance policy. They were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group and received personalized or standard advice, respectively. They were also sent an invitation to participate in a lifestyle modification program aimed at improving lifestyle. Primary outcome was an improvement in lifestyle, defined as an increase in healthy lifestyle habits within 6 months. Results: The proportion of participants who improved their lifestyle within 6 months in the intervention group did not significantly differ from that in the control group (18.4% vs. 17.7%; P = 0.488). Among participants with low health literacy and two or fewer of five healthy habits, the proportion of participants subscribing to the lifestyle modification program was higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusions: Compared with standardized advice, personalized advice based on cancer risk prediction had no effect on improving lifestyle. Impact: Provision of predicted cancer risk information did not induce change in unhealthy lifestyle.
BACKGROUND In an aging society, worsening chronic diseases increase the burden on patients and the healthcare system. Using online health information including health information via social networking service (SNS), such as Facebook and YouTube, may play an important role in the self-management of chronic diseases and health promotion for Internet users. OBJECTIVE To improve strategies for promoting access to reliable information for the self-management of chronic diseases via the Internet, and to identify populations facing barriers to using the Internet for health, we examined chronic diseases and characteristics associated with online health information seeking and the use of SNSs. METHODS This study used data from the INFORM Study 2020, which was a nationally representative cross-sectional mail survey conducted by self-administered questionnaire in 2020. The dependent variables were online health information seeking and SNS use. Online health information seeking was assessed using one question about whether respondents used the Internet to find health or medical information. SNS use was assessed by inquiring about the following four aspects: visiting SNS, sharing health information on SNS, writing in an online diary or blog, and watching health-related video content on YouTube. The independent variables were eight chronic diseases. Other independent variables were sex, age, education status, work, marital status, household income, health literacy, and self-reported health status. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for all independent variables to examine the associations of chronic diseases and other variables with online health information seeking and SNS use. RESULTS The final sample for analysis comprised 2,481 Internet users. Hypertension or high blood pressure, chronic lung diseases, depression or anxiety disorder, and cancer were reported by 24.5%, 10.1%, 7.7%, and 7.2% of respondents, respectively. The odds ratio of online health information seeking among respondents with cancer was 2.19 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47–3.27) higher than that among those without cancer, and the odds ratio among those with depression or anxiety disorder was 2.27 (95% CI: 1.46–3.53) higher than that among those without. Moreover, the odds ratio for watching health-related YouTube video content among those with chronic lung diseases was 1.42 (95% CI: 1.05–1.93) higher than that among those without these diseases. Women, younger age, high level of education, and high health literacy were positively associated with online health information seeking and SNS use. CONCLUSIONS For cancer patients, strategies for promoting access to websites with reliable cancer-related information, and access among patients with chronic lung diseases to YouTube videos providing reliable information, may be beneficial for the management of these diseases. Moreover, it is important to improve the online environment to encourage men, older adults, Internet users with low education levels, and those with low health literacy to access online health information.
Purpose We examined cancer screening practices and related beliefs in cancer survivors and individuals with family or close friends with a cancer diagnosis compared to individuals without the above cancer history for 5 population-based (gastric, colorectal, lung, breast, cervical) and 1 opportunistic (prostate) cancer screenings using nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Japan. Methods We analyzed 3269 data from 3605 respondents (response rate, 37.1%) and compared the screening beliefs and practices of cancer survivors (n = 391), individuals with family members (n = 1674), and close friends with a cancer diagnosis (n = 685) to those without any cancer history (n = 519). Results Being a cancer survivor was associated with screening for gastric (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.04-2.95), colorectal (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03-2.36), and lung cancer (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.66) but not breast, cervical cancer or PSA test. Having a family cancer diagnosis was associated with colorectal and lung cancer screening. Having friends with a cancer diagnosis was associated with PSA test. Cancer survivors and family members perceived themselves as being more susceptible and worried about getting cancer than individuals without any cancer history. Cancer survivors strongly believed screening can detect cancer and were more likely to undergo screening. Subgroup analysis indicated an interrelation between gastric and colorectal cancer screening among survivors. Conclusions A cancer diagnosis in oneself or family or friend influences an individual's health-related belief and risk perception, which can increase the likelihood of cancer screening. Implications for Cancer Survivors Targeted and tailored communication strategies can increase awareness of cancer screening. KeywordsCancer screening • Cancer survivor • Cancer diagnosis in family • Cancer diagnosis in friend • Health belief model • Screening behavior
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