title: Cancer information seeking in the digital age: effects of Angelina Jolie's prophylactic mastectomy announcement.
abstract: . This study used digital surveillance to examine the impact of Angelina Jolie's prophylactic mastectomy announcement on cancer information seeking.
  
  
  
  . We analyzed 4 categories of breast cancer-related Internet search queries from 2010 to 2013 in the United States.
  
  
  
  . Compared with the preceding 6 weeks, general information queries were 112% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79-146) higher the day of the announcement and remained 35% (95% CI, 22-49) higher over the week after the editorial. Risk assessment queries were 165% (95% CI, 110-222) higher the day of the announcement and 52% (95% CI, 31-75) higher across the week. Genetics and treatment queries showed little volume before the announcement but increased 2154% (95% CI, 1550-7076) and 9900% (95% CI, 3196-1,064,000) the day of, respectively, and remained higher across the week (812% [95% CI, 402-3913] and 2625% [95% CI, 551-317,000]). All query categories returned to normal volumes by the beginning of the second week.
  
  
  
  . Jolie's unique announcement spurred significant information seeking about breast cancer genetic testing and treatment procedures, although the surge in queries returned to preannouncement levels after 1 week. Future research should apply digital methods to advance our understanding of cancer information seeking in the digital age.
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (SMN, DBF)|Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (SMN, KMR)
authors.forename: Seth M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Noar
authors.affiliation: Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico (BMA)
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Althouse
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California (JWA)
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (SMN, DBF)
authors.forename: Diane B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (SMN, KMR)|Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (KMR)
authors.forename: Kurt M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ribisl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D005197:Famous Persons; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: breast cancer; cancer communication; cancer information seeking; digital surveillance; genetic testing; prophylactic mastectomy