title: The cancer information overload (CIO) scale: establishing predictive and discriminant validity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Survey data suggests that approximately three-fourths of adults are overwhelmed by cancer information - a construct we label cancer information overload (CIO). A significant limitation of existing research is that it relies on a single-item measure. The objective of the current study is to develop and validate a multi-item measure of CIO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1 (N=209) surveyed healthcare and manufacturing employees at eight worksites. Colonoscopy insurance claims data were culled eighteen months later to evaluate the predictive validity of CIO. Study 2 (N=399) surveyed adults at seven shopping malls. CIO and cancer fatalism were measured to examine the properties of the two constructs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1 identified a reliable 8-item CIO scale that significantly predicted colonoscopy insurance claims 18 months after the initial survey. Study 2 confirmed the factor structure identified in Study 1, and demonstrated that CIO, cancer fatalism about prevention, and cancer fatalism about treatment are best modeled as three distinct constructs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perception that there are too many recommendations about cancer prevention to know which ones to follow is an indicator of CIO, a widespread disposition that predicts colon cancer screening and is related to, but distinct from, cancer fatalism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many adults exhibit high CIO, a disposition that undermines health efforts. Communication strategies that mitigate CIO are a priority. In the short-term, health care providers and public health professionals should monitor the amount of information provided to patients and the public.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah, USA. Electronic address: jakobdjensen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jakob D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carcioppolo
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University, USA.
authors.forename: Andy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Scherr
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, USA.
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Cornell University, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niederdieppe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: CIO scale; Cancer fatalism; Cancer information overload; Colonoscopy; HINTS; Measurement