title: Information gathering and technology use among low-income minority men at risk for prostate cancer.
abstract: Health communication researchers, public health workers, and health professionals must learn more about the health information-gathering behavior of low-income minority men at risk for prostate cancer in order to share information effectively with the population. In collaboration with the Milwaukee Health Department Men's Health Referral Network, a total of 90 low-income adult men were recruited to complete a survey gauging information sources, seeking behavior, use of technology, as well as prostate cancer awareness and screening behavior. Results indicated participants primarily relied on health professionals, family, and friends for information about general issues of health as well as prostate cancer. The Internet was the least relied on source of information. A hierarchical regression indicated interpersonal information sources such as family or friends to be the only significant predictor enhancing prostate cancer awareness, controlling for other sources of information. Prostate screening behaviors were predicted by reliance on not only medical professionals but also the Internet. Practical implications of the study are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA songhy@uwm.edu.
authors.forename: Hayeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McRoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054526:Men's Health / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011203:Poverty; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: African American; digital divide; health informatics; information seeking; prostate cancer