From two‐step flow to the Internet: The changing array of sources for genetics information seeking

Abstract

The diffusion of the Internet has radically expanded the readily available sources for information of all types. Information that was once obtained second-hand from friends and acquaintances-the traditional "two-step flow"-is now found easily through the Internet. The authors make use of survey data to explore this thesis in regards to information sources about genetic testing and the influence of the Internet on the information seeking behaviors of the public. A telephone survey of a random sample of 882 adults asked them about their knowledge of, concerns about, and interest in genetic testing. Respondents were most likely to first turn to the Internet for information about cancer genetics, second to public libraries, and third to medical doctors. Overall, doctors were the most likely source to be consulted when second and third choices are considered. Age, income, and self-reported understanding of genetics are shown to be predictors of whether someone goes to medical professionals for advice, rather than to the Internet or public library. The results raise questions about the apparent tendency of the public to regard the Internet as the best source of information on complex topics like genetics, for which it may be ill-suited.

The use of information sources by internet users in answering questions

“…The subjects were asked to place their sources in three zones, (1) most significant sources, (2) intermediate sources, and (3) peripheral sources, and to illustrate the different uses of the information sources in each zone. In contrast to the results shown in the previous study by Case et al (2004), it was found that people still preferred to use human resources in general, followed by print media materials like newspapers and books, and network sources. Savolainen (2007) examined the source preferences of environmental activists with the modified framework of an "information source horizon," and the result was almost the same as his previous study.…”

“…It was observed that the information sources which had been traditionally popular, such as people, newspapers, magazines, and television, have been gradually replaced by Internet sources (Kaye and Johnson, 2003;Hektor, 2003). Interestingly, Case et al (2004) found that the Internet was the most preferred source among people looking for information about genetics and diseases and constituted 45% of the first choice sources, followed by medical doctors (18.4%), a public library (14.1%), family members (10.6%), medical sources (8.7%) and mass media sources other than the Internet (1%). Mass media sources and sources labeled friends were identified as less usable sources in this study.…”

“…Case et al (2004) classified sources for genetics information seeking into 15 categories including the Internet or Web, public libraries, doctors, family members, cancer information services, hospital programs, magazines, family and friends, newspapers, local and national TV programming, and so on. Stefl-Mabry (2003) was interested in how people express their satisfaction with the information received and developed a source preference profile with six categories including word of mouth, expert oral advice, Internet, reference books, print news, and radio or TV.…”

The Critical Challenge of Educating the Public About Genetics

“…Medical-genetics patients and parents of children with suspected genetic conditions report using the Internet to self-diagnose, to find specialists, and to increase their genetic literacy or acquire medical vocabulary [51][52][53]. In fact, patients may rely more heavily on the Internet as a source of genetics information than they do on health professionals [54]. Genetics patients report dissatisfaction with the information provided by health professionals as one of their motivations for accessing online information [52,55,56].…”

Exploring dispositional tendencies to seek online information about direct-to-consumer genetic testing

“…Even though the internet serves as the primary source for gathering genetic information [44], participants could have sought information through other websites, other media channels, or interpersonal communication with healthcare providers, family, or friends. These forms of genetic information seeking are not reflected in these data.…”