Cancer survivors information seeking behaviors: a comparison of survivors who do and do not seek information about cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the cancer information seeking behaviors and preferences of cancer survivors.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study used the National Cancer Institute's 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey data to evaluate 619 cancer survivors.


RESULTS
Two-thirds (67.5%, n = 418) of the survivors sought cancer information (InfoSeek) and 32.5% (n = 201) did not (NoInfoSeek). Significant predictors of cancer information seeking included age (less than 65), gender (female), income (>US$ 25,000/year), and having a regular health care provider (HCP).


CONCLUSIONS
Not all survivors actively look for cancer information. Although most survivors prefer receiving cancer information from their HCP, many turn to a variety of other sources, primarily the Internet.


CONCLUSIONS
HCPs should periodically assess information seeking behaviors and preferences of cancer survivors and actively refer patients to the Internet as an extension of and enhancement to their patient interactions. Credible and useful websites could be identified and recommended by the HCP as a means to address some of the barriers identified by survivors.
Mayer
Deborah K
DK
Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, United States. dmayer@tufts-nemc.org
Terrin
Norma C
NC
Kreps
Gary L
GL
Menon
Usha
U
McCance
Kathy
K
Parsons
Susan K
SK
Mooney
Kathleen H
KH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology