title: Effect of information seeking and avoidance behavior on self-rated health status among cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social determinants, such as socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity are linked to striking health disparities across the cancer continuum. One important mechanism linking social determinants and health disparities may be communication inequalities that are caused by differences in accessing, processing and utilizing cancer information. In this context, we examined health information-seeking/avoidance as a potential mediator between social determinants and self-rated health (SRH) status among cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from the 2008 well-informed, thriving and surviving (WITS) study of post-treatment cancer survivors (n=501). We examined the mediating effect of health communication-related behavior between SES and disparities in SRH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The likelihood of belonging to the Low SRH group was higher among patients who had avoided health information and whose family members had not sought health information on behalf of the survivor, those in the lowest household income bracket, and those who had high school or less education after adjusting for potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in SRH among cancer survivors are associated with SES as well as communication inequalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to provide a supportive environment in which health information is made available if disparities in health-related quality of life among cancer survivors are to be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA. minsoo_jung@dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Minsoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Shoba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramanadhan
authors.forename: Kasisomayajula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viswanath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*