title: Psychosocial determinants of cancer-related information seeking among cancer patients.
abstract: This study explores the utility of using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction as a framework for predicting cancer patients' intentions to seek information about their cancer from sources other than a physician, and to examine the relation between patients' baseline intentions to seek information and their actual seeking behavior at follow-up. Within 1 year of their diagnosis with colon, breast, or prostate cancer, 1,641 patients responded to a mailed questionnaire assessing intentions to seek cancer-related information from a source other than their doctor, as well as their attitudes, perceived normative pressure, and perceived behavioral control with respect to this behavior. In addition, the survey assessed their cancer-related information seeking. One year later, 1,049 of these patients responded to a follow-up survey assessing cancer-related information seeking during the previous year. Attitudes, perceived normative pressure, and perceived behavioral control were predictive of information-seeking intentions, although attitudes emerged as the primary predictor. Intentions to seek information, perceived normative pressure regarding information seeking, baseline information-seeking behavior, and being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer were predictive of actual information-seeking behavior at follow-up. Practical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6220, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith-McLallen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fishbein
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hornik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult