Information seeking for coping with cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

PurposeInformation seeking can be used to make sense of a situation or solve a problem. Information seeking can be considered a coping strategy when facing illness, crisis or other life-changing events. Cancer is a globally occurring, life-threatening disease, and this review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on the active information seeking behaviour of cancer patients specifically focussing on how active information seeking serves as a coping strategy.Design/methodology/approachThis study adheres to current guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and consequently, thorough literature searches were conducted in four databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus which resulted in 7,179 publications. Following a careful screening process, this systematic review identifies 14 studies on the use of information seeking to cope with cancer.FindingsThe included studies consist of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to analysing the use of information seeking to cope with cancer. The included studies have focussed primarily on demographic factors, the impact of affect, information needs, sources and coping strategies.Research limitations/implicationsA number of research gaps within library and information science are identified. Bringing research in this field into information science could allow for a greater understanding of information literacy, the use of existing information and the process of information searching when using information seeking to cope with serious illness.Originality/valueThis systematic review focusses on how information seeking serves as a coping strategy for cancer patients and provides an overview of the recent literature.

Psychological distress and desire for professional support in gynecological cancer patients in an outpatient university setting

“…This is in line with Herschbach et al, who also found these three items to be the least burdensome for the patients queried [37]. These ndings re ect the patients' perceptions that access to care and information is adequate, which is relevant considering that information-seeking also serves as a coping strategy [41].…”

Information practices around genetic testing for ovarian cancer patients

“…First, they broaden the view of patients' mode of information‐seeking around GT. In the limited number of studies on cancer patient information behavior around GT, the most commonly reported information‐seeking modes were active information‐seeking, avoiding, and scanning or encountering (Cypowyj et al, 2003; Kelly et al, 2010; Petersen et al, 2021; Shim et al, 2006; Zimmermann et al, 2020). We specified four additional modes, receiving information from HCPs, collaborative information‐seeking with family members, delegating information‐seeking to family members, and purposefully and regularly monitoring information to keep updated (e.g., following research institutes' Twitter accounts), revealing the diversity of means by which patients engage with information.…”

Development of the Together - Teens&20s microsite, an online resource for adolescent and young adult cancer patients

“…Following an Institute of Medicine (IOM) workshop and review of gaps in AYA cancer care, experts highlighted the need to improve patient education for this patient population with a specific call to develop and leverage online resources to communicate with AYA patients [ 21 ]. Indeed, internet use is associated with younger age as is seeking information about cancer from sources beyond practitioners [ 25 ]. A recent survey of AYA treated for cancer found that most patients searched the internet for information several times per week after diagnosis and daily to several times per week during treatment [ 19 ].…”

“…These preferences align with general AYA psychosocial development including a desire to distinguish themselves from others and to have autonomy over their actions. Information seeking is a coping strategy for AYA patients [ 25 ] because it is a way to gain control, something important to this life stage. But, information seeking can be overwhelming and not all patients want the same level of information [ 25 ].…”

“…Information seeking is a coping strategy for AYA patients [ 25 ] because it is a way to gain control, something important to this life stage. But, information seeking can be overwhelming and not all patients want the same level of information [ 25 ]. This sentiment is embodied in AYA patients' statements that they want bite-sized information with an option to click to “read more”.…”