Lila J Finney Rutten1, Linda Squiers, Bradford Hesse. 1. Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA. finneyl@mail.nih.gov
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We examined the main topics of inquiry (Subjects of Interaction-SOI) of calls made by the general public to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service's (CIS) 1-800-4-CANCER telephone information service. METHODS: We analyzed data from 37,620 callers to the CIS between September 2002 and August 2003. We conducted frequencies, chi-squares, and logistic regressions to ascertain sample characteristics and sociodemographic correlates of each SOI. Results. We found differences in discussion of the 7 main SOI by age, sex, ethnicity, race, and education. CONCLUSIONS: Findings inform the CIS' and other organizations' efforts to develop and disseminate cancer information.
BACKGROUND: We examined the main topics of inquiry (Subjects of Interaction-SOI) of calls made by the general public to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service's (CIS) 1-800-4-CANCER telephone information service. METHODS: We analyzed data from 37,620 callers to the CIS between September 2002 and August 2003. We conducted frequencies, chi-squares, and logistic regressions to ascertain sample characteristics and sociodemographic correlates of each SOI. Results. We found differences in discussion of the 7 main SOI by age, sex, ethnicity, race, and education. CONCLUSIONS: Findings inform the CIS' and other organizations' efforts to develop and disseminate cancer information.