Correlates of health information seeking between adults diagnosed with and without cancer

Abstract

PurposeTo examine predictors of information seeking behavior among individuals diagnosed with cancer versus those without.MethodsCross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 4 Cycles 1–3 (October 2011 to November 2013) were analyzed for 10,774 survey respondents aged ≥18 years. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the effect of socio-demographic and behavioral factors on health information seeking.ResultsCancer diagnosis did not predict health information seeking. However, respondents diagnosed with cancer were more likely to seek health information from a healthcare practitioner. Compared to males, females were more likely to seek health information irrespective of cancer diagnosis. Regardless of cancer diagnosis, those without a regular healthcare provider were less likely to seek health information. Likelihood of seeking health information declined across education strata, and significantly worsened among respondents without high school diplomas irrespective of cancer diagnosis.ConclusionsRespondents sought health information irrespective of cancer diagnosis. However, the source of health information sought differed by cancer diagnosis. Gender, education, and having a regular healthcare provider were predictors of health information seeking. Future health communication interventions targeting cancer patients and the general public should consider these findings for tailored interventions to achieve optimal results.

Health Literacy Influences Men's Active and Passive Cancer Information Seeking

“…Most men passively acquire, instead of actively seeking, health information in their daily environment and/or from family and friends (Lee et al, 2006; McKenzie, 2003; Niederdeppe et al, 2007). Higher education and being married are correlated with cancer information seeking in this and other studies (Adjei Boakye et al, 2018; Blanch-Hartigan & Viswanath, 2015; Kelly et al, 2010). Levels of cancer fear in this study were similar to those in a large community sample in Britain (Vrinten, van Jaarsveld, Waller, von Wagner, & Wardle, 2014), and in agreement with previous work (Friedman, Corwin, Dominick, & Rose, 2009), and this negatively correlated with men's active cancer information seeking.…”

“…Levels of cancer fear in this study were similar to those in a large community sample in Britain (Vrinten, van Jaarsveld, Waller, von Wagner, & Wardle, 2014), and in agreement with previous work (Friedman, Corwin, Dominick, & Rose, 2009), and this negatively correlated with men's active cancer information seeking. Access to health care has been shown to correlate with health information seeking (Adjei Boakye et al, 2018). In this study, no such relationship was observed; however, most respondents had access to health care and found their GP helpful.…”

Addressing Unmet Information Needs: Results of a Clinician-Led Consultation Service About Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer Patients and Their Relatives

“… 5 - 7 Information-seeking, as a coping strategy, helps them understand their options, gives them a sense of hope and control, and could improve communication with family members. 8 - 11 In this process, patients often get frustrated about the diverging information and contradictory messages about the evidence of CAM, and their efforts do not mitigate feelings of uncertainty and fear but lead to a new and even greater burden. 12 , 13 It is, therefore, not surprising that cancer patients want physicians to be their primary point of contact for information and guidance about CAM.…”

The social dimension of health literacy in relation to cancer

“…Diagnóza rakoviny, choroba vzbudzujúca strach, hnev, neistotu, beznádej, vyvoláva okrem týchto pocitov často aj potrebu ďalších informácií, a to nielen medzi pacientmi, ale aj ich príbuznými [31]. Adjei et al [32] považovali za dôležité zistiť, či prediktorom vyhľadávania zdravotných informácií je práve diagnostika rakoviny. Žiadne štatisticky významné rozdiely vo vyhľadávaní informácií na základe diagnostiky rakoviny neboli zistené.…”

“…sociálne podporné siete. Adjei et al [32] dospeli u vzorky 10 774 respondentov k trom najčastejšie zvoleným zdrojom informácií. Išlo o internet, tlačené materiály a poskytovateľa zdravotnej starostlivosti bez ohľadu na diagnostikovanie rakoviny, avšak v rozličných poradiach pre obe skupiny.…”