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Information support for cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Hesse Bradford W.,
Arora Neeraj K.,
Burke Beckjord Ellen,
Finney Rutten Lila J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.23445
Subject(s) - seekers , information seeking , population , health information national trends survey , medicine , information seeking behavior , cancer , information needs , information quality , telephone survey , family medicine , demography , gerontology , information system , environmental health , health care , health information , marketing , computer science , law , business , economic growth , sociology , world wide web , engineering , political science , library science , electrical engineering , economics
Survivors' information‐seeking behavior has traditionally been documented through analysis of inquiries to hotlines and cancer information services. Data from these self‐selected inquiries tend to be restricted to a time around diagnosis, and to those populations possessing the wherewithal and motivation to seek information actively. The current study used data from a general population survey to assess 1) the prevalence of information‐seeking behavior among survivors in the general population, 2) characteristics of seekers versus nonseekers, 3) ratings of information‐seeking experience, and 4) actual versus preferred sources of information. Data were analyzed from the 2005 administration of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). HINTS is a cross‐sectional, random digit dial telephone survey, weighted to provide estimates for the general population. Nearly half of all Americans (48.7%) indicated that they have looked for cancer information from 1 source or another. Percentages were highest for those who have been touched by cancer (63.1% of cancer survivors and 54.6% of those with family histories) and lowest for those with no cancer history (27.6% of those with no history). Quality concerns topped the list of information‐seeking experiences for those recalling the last time they looked. Patterns of information‐seeking revealed a discrepancy between preferred and actual source when tracked over years since diagnosis. Information‐seeking is prevalent among cancer survivors and does not diminish over time. Prescriptions are given for reengineering the information environment to improve long‐term outcomes for survivors. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.