title: Meeting the public's cancer information needs: characteristics of callers to the National Cancer Information Center of the American Cancer Society.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we describe the characteristics of the callers of the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center (NCIC), why they called, how they learned about NCIC, and their satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of callers (N = 19,487) completed a telephone survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority were female, White, 45 to 74 years old, had incomes greater than 35,001 dollars, and were college educated. They learned about the NCIC through TV advertisements and requested information about specific cancers, local programs, or making donations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings validate the usefulness of the NCIC and are helpful in identifying and targeting persons who do not routinely use this service.
authors.affiliation: American Cancer Society, Behavioral Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4250, USA. barbara.powe@cancer.org
authors.forename: Barbara D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Powe
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nehl
authors.forename: Chris M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Finnie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000570:American Cancer Society; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007253:Information Centers; D007255:Information Services / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology