Prevalence and correlates of health information-seeking among Hispanic and non-Hispanic childhood cancer survivors

190 Background: In order to improve the quality of the communication between the healthcare system and cancer survivors, it is fundamental to understand their preferred sources of health information. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), little is known regarding which sources are used and trusted the most. This information is crucial to develop effective communication aimed at achieving high-quality equitable cancer care. Our objective was to explore the preferred sources of health information in Mexico, and to understand which factors influence these choices. Methods: We examined sources of health information among cancer survivors in Mexico City using questions from the Spanish Version of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The characteristics of survivors who preferred the internet were compared with those who preferred other sources (doctors, printed materials, family members, organizations) using Fisher’s exact test. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of patient characteristics on health information-seeking. Results: Of 148 participants, 82 (56%) had internet access. Of the 88 patients who had sought health information, 61 (69%) listed the internet as their preferred source. Those 65 and older were less likely to seek health information, regardless of the source (OR 0.17, p < 0.0001). Survivors who preferred the internet were more likely to be younger (p = 0.001), male (p = 0.003) and to have a higher educational level (p = 0.009). Comorbidities, stage, cancer type, and time from diagnosis had no effect on patient preferences. Doctors were the most trusted source of information (85%), followed by the internet (28%) and government agencies (23%). Conclusions: Mexican patients who seek health information online are more likely to be young educated males. Doctors represent the most trusted source of information, particularly for patients from vulnerable populations (such as older women with low educational levels). High-quality healthcare information programs in LMICs should be designed taking these behaviors into account, and patients should continue to receive health information via their most trusted sources.

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Predictors of Self and Surrogate Online Health Information Seeking in Family Caregivers to Cancer Survivors

Social Work in Health Care ◽

10.1080/00981389.2015.1070780 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 54 (10) ◽

pp. 939-953 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Young Sam Oh

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survivors ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Online Health Information ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Online Health Information Seeking

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Parental Cancer-related Information Seeking, Health Communication and Satisfaction with Medical Providers of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Differences by Race/Ethnicity and Language Preference

Journal of Health Communication ◽

10.1080/10810730.2021.1895919 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Carol Y. Ochoa ◽

Kimberly A. Miller ◽

Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ◽

Rhona I. Slaughter ◽

Ann S. Hamilton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Communication ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Parental Cancer ◽

Medical Providers ◽

Language Preference ◽

Related Information ◽

Race Ethnicity

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Prevalence and Age-Related Patterns in Health Information Seeking Behaviors and Technology Use Among Skin Cancer Survivors: Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.36256 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Armando Marchetti ◽

Liliane Sar-Graycar ◽

Stephen W Dusza ◽

Japbani K Nanda ◽

Nicholas Kurtansky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Health Information ◽

Technology Use ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Age Related ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors

BACKGROUND Information is an unmet need among cancer survivors. There is a paucity of population-based data examining the health information seeking behaviors and attitudes of skin cancer survivors (SCSs). OBJECTIVE To identify prevalence and patterns of health information seeking behaviors and attitudes among SCSs across age groups. METHODS Analysis of National Cancer Institute population-based 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey 5, Cycle 3. RESULTS The 5438 respondents included 346 (6.4%) SCSs. Skin cancer respondents had a mean age of 65.8; the majority were white (96%, and 171 were men (48%). Most reported having ever looked for health (86%) or cancer (77%) information; 28% stated their last search took a lot of effort and 22% were frustrated. The internet was most often cited as being the first source that was recently used for health or medical information (46%). Compared to SCSs <65 years old, those ≥65 years of age were more likely to see a doctor first for important health information (68% vs. 36%, p<0.001) and less likely to have health/wellness apps (26% vs. 65%, p=0.1), to have watched a health-related YouTube video (13% vs. 27%, p=0.02), and to have used electronic means to look for information (61% vs. 82%, p<0.001) CONCLUSIONS Health information searches are common among SCSs, but behaviors and attitudes are associated with age, highlighting the importance of access to doctors and personalized information sources.

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Online social network use among parents of young childhood cancer survivors.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.5_suppl.82 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽

pp. 82-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Justin Gregory Wilford ◽

Kathryn Osann ◽

Lari B. Wenzel

Keyword(s):

Health Behavior ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Health Information ◽

Support Groups ◽

Health Behavior Change ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Preventive Health ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivorship

82 Background: Online social networks (OSNs) have emerged in the past decade as potentially powerful tools for health information sharing and health behavior change. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 75% of all parents are active on OSNs. Given the high level of need for childhood cancer survivorship health education and preventive health behavior change, OSNs represent key resources for parents to engage with experts and peers over survivorship health. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 114 parents of young and adolescent ( < 13 years) childhood cancer survivors was used to examine parent OSN use in specific platforms. Recruitment was conducted through online social support groups of two childhood cancer non-profits that focus on parent support. The novel online survey investigated OSN frequency of use, history of making new friends in OSNs, and whether OSNs were “good for sharing and receiving reliable and high quality information on diet, physical activity, and other healthy behaviors.” Results: Parents reported high levels of OSN use with 80% reporting daily use. Facebook was the most commonly used OSN by a wide margin. Seventy-eight percent of parents reported using it every day. The next most used OSN was Instagram (15%). Parents reported making new friends on Facebook (86%), followed by Instagram (22%) and Twitter (10%). Among parents who have used the respective OSNs, several were endorsed as being “good” or “extremely good” for sharing survivorship-related preventive health information. Facebook was endorsed by 76% of its users, Twitter and Pinterest by 59%, Google+ by 52%, and Instagram by 40%. None of the demographic variables collected predicted parent OSN use or perception. There was a strong association between parents using OSNs daily and their reporting having made new friends on OSNs (p < .000). Conclusions: Parents of young childhood cancer survivors recruited from online support groups report high levels of OSN use and making new friends through OSNs, and find OSNs potentially good sources for sharing and receiving survivorship-related health information. OSNs in general, and Facebook in particular, represent promising avenues for childhood cancer survivorship health information dissemination.

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Patterns of cancer-related health information seeking and receipt among Hispanic and non-Hispanic childhood cancer survivors.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.5_suppl.197 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽

pp. 197-197

Author(s):

Kimberly A Miller ◽

Cynthia N Ramirez ◽

Katherine Wojcik ◽

Anamara Ritt-Olson ◽

Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Positive Health ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Hospital Resources ◽

Information Domain ◽

Health Care Engagement

197 Background: Because childhood cancer survivors (CCS) report a high number of unmet cancer-related information needs, knowing where CCS access information may provide insights into appropriate delivery systems to address information deficits. Active seeking of health information among CCS is associated with positive health behaviors, including adherence to follow-up care. This study examined patterns of cancer-related health information seeking as an indicator of health care engagement. Methods: Participants (N = 193) were young adult CCS diagnosed with any cancer type in Los Angeles County, 54% Hispanic, with a mean age of 19.87, and at least two years from treatment. CCS were asked where they accessed health information related to their cancer with 8 response options which were categorized into four information domains: hospital resources, social media, other survivors, and family members. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess correlates of each information domain, including sociodemographic information, post-traumatic growth, and health care engagement, controlling for age, ethnicity, sex, education, and health insurance status. Results: Hospital resources were the most frequently endorsed information domain (65.3%), and Hispanic CCS (vs. non-Hispanic) were more likely to access this source. Online sources were more likely accessed by female CCS. Seeking information from other cancer survivors was associated with follow-up care and post-traumatic growth after cancer. Hispanic CCS were less likely to seek information from other survivors and their family than non-Hispanics. Conclusions: While CCS obtain information from a variety of sources, hospital resources were the most commonly accessed, particularly for Hispanics. Information sharing between survivors may promote positive health care engagement; however, Hispanics may be less likely to pursue this resource. Future work should address barriers Hispanic CCS face in information sharing with other cancer survivors. [Table: see text]

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Health information needs of childhood cancer survivors and their family

Pediatric Blood & Cancer ◽

10.1002/pbc.22207 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 123-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Sebastiaan L. Knijnenburg ◽

Leontien C. Kremer ◽

Cor van den Bos ◽

Katja I. Braam ◽

Monique W.M. Jaspers

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Needs ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors

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Perceptions and knowledge of air pollution and its health effects among caregivers of childhood cancer survivors: a qualitative study

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08739-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Austin R. Waters ◽

Echo L. Warner ◽

Perla L. Vaca Lopez ◽

Anne C. Kirchhoff ◽

Judy Y. Ou

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Health Effects ◽

Cancer Survivor ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Exposure Reduction ◽

Negative Perceptions

Abstract Background Emerging research suggests that survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers are at risk for morbidity and mortality associated with air pollutants. However, caregiver perceptions of the effects of air pollution are unknown. Thus, to address this gap we described caregivers’ perceptions of air pollution’s impact on general population health and specifically on childhood cancer survivors, and caregivers’ air pollution information-seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. Methods Participants were Utah residents, ≥18 years, and caregiver of a childhood cancer survivor who had completed treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers to describe their perspectives on air quality, how air pollution impacts health (general population and survivor health), and their information seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through two rounds of structured coding. Results Caregivers (N = 13) were non-Hispanic white and primarily females (92.3%) between 30 and 49 years old (46.2%). Most families lived within the Wasatch Front (69.2%), the main metropolitan of Utah. Two categories emerged pertaining to caregiver’s perceptions of air pollution: 1) Limited awareness about the health effects of air pollution, and 2) Unsuccessful information seeking and minimal exposure reduction behaviors. All caregivers held negative perceptions of air pollution in Utah, but most were unaware of how pollution affects health. While some families limited air pollution exposure by avoiding outdoor activity or physically leaving the region, few practiced survivor-specific exposure reduction. Nearly half of caregivers worried about potential effects of air pollution on survivor health and wanted more information. Conclusions Despite negative perceptions of air pollution, caregivers were divided on whether air pollution could impact survivor health. Few caregivers engaged in exposure reduction for their cancer survivor. As air pollution levels increase in the U.S., continued research on this topic is essential to managing cancer survivor respiratory and cardiovascular health.

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