Perceptions of cancer‐related information among cancer survivors: A report from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors
- 29 July 2008
- Vol. 113 (6), 1471-1479
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23713
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Sources of cancer‐related information are rapidly increasing, but little is known about whether the health information available to cancer survivors meets their needs. METHODS. The authors surveyed 778 Massachusetts cancer survivors 3, 6, or 11 years after their diagnosis for 6 common cancers. They analyzed their views about 5 types of cancer‐related information, the quality of that information, barriers to getting it, their experiences with physicians providing cancer care, and the quality of their cancer care. RESULTS. Among 462 (61%) respondents who reported needing cancer information, many gave unfavorable ratings (fair or poor) of the quality of cancer information regarding cancer support groups (38%), long‐term side effects (36%), experiences of other cancer patients (26%), and cancer physicians (26%). About 20% of respondents reported sometimes experiencing barriers to obtaining cancer information, although fewer than 10% usually or always experienced barriers. For both men and women, worse physical and mental functioning was associated with greater need for information, worse ratings of information quality, and more barriers to obtaining information (all P<.01). Cancer survivors who were black or had lower incomes reported more problems obtaining needed information, and younger women had greater information needs than older women (all P <.01). CONCLUSIONS. Opportunities exist to improve the quality, content and delivery of cancer‐related information to survivors, especially for those who are racial/ethnic minorities, have low incomes, or are in worse physical or mental health. Providing information more effectively to cancer survivors may improve their care and health outcomes. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Community-based “powerful tools” intervention enhances health of caregiversArchives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2008
- Frustrated and Confused: The American Public Rates its Cancer-Related Information-Seeking ExperiencesJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2007
- Cancer survivors information seeking behaviors: A comparison of survivors who do and do not seek information about cancerPatient Education and Counseling, 2007
- Health and the Information Nonseeker: A ProfileHealth Communication, 2006
- The American Cancer Society’s Studies of Cancer SurvivorsCancer Nursing, 2006
- Cancer Knowledge and Disparities in the Information AgeJournal of Health Communication, 2006
- Patients' Perceptions of Quality of Care for Colorectal Cancer by Race, Ethnicity, and LanguageJournal of Clinical Oncology, 2005
- Self-Efficacy and Adjustment in Cancer Patients: A Preliminary ReportBehavioral Medicine, 1997
- The MOS 36-ltem Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)Medical Care, 1992
- Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychological Review, 1977