Skip to main content
Log in

Differences in cancer information-seeking behavior, preferences, and awareness between cancer survivors and healthy controls: A national, population-based survey

Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background. No research has examined how cancer diagnosis and treatment might alter information source preferences or opinions. Methods. We examined data from 719 cancer survivors (CS group) and 2012 matched healthy controls (NCC group) regarding cancer-related information-seeking behavior, preferences, and awareness from the population-based 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey. Results. The CS group reported greater consumption of cancer-related information, but the CS and NCC groups did not differ in information source use or preferences. The CS group was more confident of their ability to get cancer information, reported more trust in health care professionals and television as cancer information sources, but evaluated their recent cancer information-seeking experiences more negatively than the NCC group. Awareness of cancer information resources was surprisingly low in both the CS and NCC groups. Conclusions. Cancer diagnosis and treatment subtly alters cancer information-seeking preferences and experience. However, awareness and use of cancer information resources was relatively low regardless of personal history of cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Chen X, Sui L. Impact of media and the Internet on oncology: survey of cancer patients and oncologists in Canada. J Clin Oncol. 2001; 19:4291–4297.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Foltz A, Sullivan J. Reading level, learning presentation preference, and desire for information among cancer patients. J Cancer Educ. 1996;11:32–38.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Van Der Molen B. Relating information needs to the cancer experience: 1 information as a key coping strategy. Eur J Cancer Care. 1999;8:238–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Deridan A. Informational needs of recently diagnosed cancer patients part 2: method and description. Cancer Nurs. 1987;10:156–163.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rees C, Bath P. Information-seeking behaviors of women with breast cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2001;28:691–698.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Czaja R, Manfredi C, Price J. The determinants and consequences of information seeking among cancer patients. J Health Commun. 2003;8:529–562.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Carlsson M. Cancer patients seeking information from sources ourside the health care system. Support Care Cancer. 2000;8:453–457.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Luker KA, Beaver K, Leinster SJ, et al. The information needs of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. J Adv Nurs. 1995;22:134–141.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Talosig-Garcia M, Davis SW. Information-seeking behavior of minority breast cancer patients: an exploratory study. J Health Commun. 2005;10:53–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. Summary Health Statistics for US adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2004. Vital Health Statistics. 2004;10:2006.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Nelson DE, Kreps GL, Hesse BW, et al. The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS): Development, design, and dissemination. J Health Commun. 2004;9:443–460.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cohen J, Cohen P, West SG, et al. Applied multiple regression/ correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. 3rd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wiggers JH, Donovan KO, Redman S, et al. Cancer patients satisfaction with care. Cancer. 1990; 66:610–688.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wilkinson S. Factors which influence how nurses communicate with cancer patients. J Adv Nurs. 1991;16:677–688.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Suominen T, Leino-Kilipi H, Laippala P. Who provides support and how? Breast cancer patients and nurse evaluate patient support. Cancer Nurs. 1995.18:278–285.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mallinger JB, Griggs JJ, & Shields CG. Patient-centered care and breast cancer survivors’ satisfaction with information. Patient Educ Couns. 2005;57:342–349.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abbey R. Roach MS.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roach, A.R., Lykins, E.L.B., Gochett, C.G. et al. Differences in cancer information-seeking behavior, preferences, and awareness between cancer survivors and healthy controls: A national, population-based survey. J Canc Educ 24, 73–79 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190802664784

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08858190802664784

Keywords

Navigation