Beliefs about heritability of cancer and health information seeking and preventive behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Individuals' beliefs about cancer heritability could affect their health information seeking and health behaviors.


METHODS
Data from 5813 English-speaking adult respondents to the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey were analyzed.


RESULTS
Individuals who believed that knowledge of family history or genes can reduce cancer risk were significantly more likely to have ever looked for cancer information. Ever smokers who believed that genes are the main cause of lung cancer were significantly more likely to smoke currently.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients need to be educated about genetic susceptibility to cancer in ways that support information seeking and engagement in protective behaviors.
Kaphingst
Kimberly A
KA
National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-2073, USA. kkaphing@mail.nih.gov
Lachance
Christina R
CR
Condit
Celeste M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult