Cancer information seeking and scanning: Sources and patterns

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 853-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura LB Barnes ◽  
Jam J Khojasteh ◽  
Denna Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Search Patterns ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
National Trends

Objective: This study aimed to identify predominant search patterns in a recent search for health information and a potential search for strongly needed cancer information, to identify the commonly scanned sources of information that may represent stable elements of the information fields characteristic of these patterns, and to evaluate whether search patterns are the same for cancer patients and non-patients. Design: Analysis of Health Information National Trends Survey 4 Cycle 2 (HINTS 4.2) data, a nationally representative survey administered by the US National Cancer Institute. Methods: The search patterns of individuals responding to survey questions about a recent search for health information and a hypothetical search for strongly needed cancer information were identified by cross-classifying the first source of information to be consulted in both search contexts. Using a mixed-model repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), we evaluated the relationship between search patterns and scanned sources of cancer information. Results: Five predominant search patterns or groups were evident: Internet–doctor (29%), Internet–Internet (25%), doctor–doctor (16%), Internet–cancer organisation (6%) and print–doctor (6%) for recent search and for the hypothetical search for strongly needed information, respectively. Patterns did not vary by presence/absence of cancer diagnosis. Information search groups differed both demographically and in the sources of information scanned. Patterns were replicated in data from two additional HINTS surveys which differed in the wording of the focal questions. Conclusion: Differences among the patterns in various health-related attitudes and behaviours are identified. Implications for patient engagement in shared decision-making, particularly in the presence of rapid developments in health information technology, are discussed.

Cancer Information Seeking among Black and White Adults: Results from the 2003 and 2005 Health Information National Trends Surveys

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 16-29
Author(s):  
Jiali Ye ◽  
Zhiheng Xu ◽  
Bamidele Adesunloye
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Black And White ◽  
National Trends ◽  
Cancer Information Seeking ◽  
White Adults

Information seeking has significant impact on improving cancer preventive activities and health decision making. This study sought to compare Black and White adults on cancer information seeking and the choice of primary information sources. Non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White adults completed Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS) collected in 2003 and in 2005. The results of bivariate analyses showed that Whites were more likely than Blacks to be cancer information seekers for both years (2003: 49.0% vs. 40.8%, p < .001; 2005: 54.6% vs. 46.9%, p = .008). However, after controlling for sociodemographic variables, race was not significantly associated with cancer information seeking. Both racial groups increased their likelihood of cancer information seeking from 2003 to 2005, although the increase was only statistically significant for Whites ( p < .001). Health providers and the Internet were the top two most selected primary cancer information sources for both racial groups. These findings indicate that sociodemographic factors, such as gender, education, and cancer history, may shape the racial difference in health information seeking among the general population. Among all the information sources, health care providers and the Internet play the most important role in providing cancer-related information.

scholarly journals Health Information-seeking Behaviors: A Review of National Survey Instruments (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyeonghui Jeong ◽  
Hanna Choi
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Health Lifestyle ◽  
Survey Instruments ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has also emerged as an infodemic, worsening the harm of the pandemic for people. The situation has highlighted the need for a deeply rooted understanding of health-information seeking behaviors (HISB). OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to review and provide insight regarding methodologies and the construct of content HISB surveys by answering the following research question: what are the characteristics of measurement tools for assessing HISBs in nationally representative surveys around the world? METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) was used as a framework for the study. A data search was performed through six international and two Korean search engines between October 22, 2017, and November 13, 2017. Initially, the studies performed among nationally representative samples within the past 10 years were included to discover HISB survey instruments. The methodologies of the studies using HISB surveys were analyzed. For content analysis, two researchers reached a consensus through discussion by scrutinizing the contents of each survey questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 10 survey tools from six countries were identified after a review of 1,476 records from the search results. Five survey tools (HINTS, HTS, ANHCS, NHIS, and HTHS) from the United States (U.S.) and each of one tool from European Union (E.U.), France, Germany, Israel, and Poland were identified. National institutes or individual researchers designed these surveys by using the items of the dichotomous or Likert scale. Telephone or online surveys were commonly used targeting the adult population (≥ 15 years of age). From the content analysis, the domains of the survey items were categorized as follows: health (overall health, lifestyle, and cancer), information (health information and patient medical records), and channel (offline and online). All categories encompassed behavioral and attitude dimensions. A theoretical framework—an Information-Channel-Health (ICH) structure—for HISB was proposed. CONCLUSIONS The results can contribute to the development and implementation of survey tools for HISB with integrated questionnaire items. This will help to understand HISB trends and enhance patient engagement in national healthcare.

The role of sexual identity in tobacco information–seeking behaviours and perceptions

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W Wheldon ◽  
Leah Hoffman ◽  
Erin Keely O’Brien ◽  
Janine Delahanty ◽  
Xiaoquan Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
The Us ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
National Trends

Objective: To explore differences in tobacco information–seeking behaviours and perceptions between sexual minority and heterosexual (or ‘straight’) adults and to determine if these differences are mediated by tobacco use. Design: Cross-sectional national survey. Setting: Nationally representative probability-based surveys of adults 18 years of age or older in the US civilian non-institutionalised population. Methods: Data from respondents identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual (LGB; n = 156) or straight ( n = 4,964) in the US National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey Food and Drug Administration cycles 1 and 2 (HINTS-FDA 2015, 2017) were analysed. We compared the responses of sexual minority and straight respondents aged 18 years and older concerning tobacco information-seeking behaviours and perceptions. Results: Sexual minority respondents were more likely than their straight counterparts to seek out tobacco health information, to look for information about e-cigarettes and to use the Internet for health information searches. Some of these differences were mediated by tobacco use. Sexual minority respondents were similar to their straight counterparts regarding perceptions of trust and confidence in tobacco health information, as well as perceptions of the hazards of tobacco use. Conclusion: Because sexual minority adults have higher rates of tobacco use and higher rates of tobacco information seeking than others, tobacco health information campaigns should consider carefully tailoring the messages directed towards sexual minority populations.

Evaluation of Healthcare Avoidance Behavior Using the Healthcare National Trends Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiu Ming Chan ◽  
Clauda Laster
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Personal Health Information ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Psychosocial Barriers ◽  
National Trends ◽  
Number Of Individuals

As online search engines have become increasingly popular for people to use to locate necessary health information, the number of individuals choosing to avoid visiting a doctor is dramatically increasing. This study analyzed 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data and found that people who avoid visiting a doctor were more likely to be male, younger, and less educated than those who do not avoid seeing a doctor. Also, individuals who have less health insurance coverage, have serious psychological distress (SPD), and suffered cancer information overload were more likely to report psychosocial barriers to care. Furthermore, the levels of trust of doctors and visiting a social networking site were significant predictors of “doctor avoidance.” In addition, individuals who felt their personal health information was not being safely guarded by doctors were more likely to avoid visiting a doctor. These findings can help healthcare professionals better understand the characteristics of persons who avoid visiting a doctor and professionals can use these conclusions to provide more effective ways to deliver health information to change healthcare behavior.

Intention to View Health TV Programs in South Korea: An Application of the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking

2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 526-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye-Jin Paek ◽  
Mideum Choi ◽  
Thomas Hove
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Korean Adults ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Practical Implications

As people have become increasingly concerned about their health, programs about health have proliferated on South Korean television. This study’s purpose is to identify the factors associated with and processes through which Korean adults intend to view health TV programs. The comprehensive model of information seeking (CMIS) was tested using structural equation modeling that was fitted with survey data from a nationally representative sample of 1,020 South Korean adults. Results indicate that the demographic antecedents of being female and older adult and the psychological antecedents of being health conscious and health literate significantly predicted the degree to which people would perceive health TV programs to be useful. Among the information carrier factors of health TV programs, utility was directly related to intention to view, while trust in health information on TV was only indirectly related to intention to view. For theoretical implications, we suggest further conceptual and operational refinement of CMIS. For practical implications, we highlight the importance of motivational and utility factors in predicting people’s intention to view health TV programs. Finally, this study stresses the importance of TV as a viable health information provider that can reduce health information gaps and help people (particularly older adults, the poor, and the less educated) to improve their health knowledge and health behaviors.

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