BACKGROUND: Individuals' beliefs about cancer heritability could affect their health information seeking and health behaviors. METHODS: Data from 5813 English-speaking adult respondents to the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey were analyzed. RESULTS: Individuals who believed that knowledge of family history or genes can reduce cancer risk were significantly more likely to have ever looked for cancer information. Ever smokers who believed that genes are the main cause of lung cancer were significantly more likely to smoke currently. CONCLUSIONS: Patients need to be educated about genetic susceptibility to cancer in ways that support information seeking and engagement in protective behaviors.
BACKGROUND: Individuals' beliefs about cancer heritability could affect their health information seeking and health behaviors. METHODS: Data from 5813 English-speaking adult respondents to the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey were analyzed. RESULTS: Individuals who believed that knowledge of family history or genes can reduce cancer risk were significantly more likely to have ever looked for cancer information. Ever smokers who believed that genes are the main cause of lung cancer were significantly more likely to smoke currently. CONCLUSIONS:Patients need to be educated about genetic susceptibility to cancer in ways that support information seeking and engagement in protective behaviors.
Authors: Colleen M McBride; Gerold Bepler; Isaac M Lipkus; Pauline Lyna; Greg Samsa; Jennifer Albright; Santanu Datta; Barbara K Rimer Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: C Lerman; K Gold; J Audrain; T H Lin; N R Boyd; C T Orleans; B Wilfond; G Louben; N Caporaso Journal: Health Psychol Date: 1997-01 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: David E Nelson; Gary L Kreps; Bradford W Hesse; Robert T Croyle; Gordon Willis; Neeraj K Arora; Barbara K Rimer; K V Viswanath; Neil Weinstein; Sara Alden Journal: J Health Commun Date: 2004 Sep-Oct
Authors: Erika A Waters; Caroline Kincaid; Annette R Kaufman; Michelle L Stock; Laurel M Peterson; Nicole L Muscanell; Rosanna E Guadagno Journal: Br J Health Psychol Date: 2013-10-01
Authors: Muin J Khoury; Steven B Clauser; Andrew N Freedman; Elizabeth M Gillanders; Russ E Glasgow; William M P Klein; Sheri D Schully Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2011-07-27 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Diana C Garofalo; Shawn T Sorge; Dale C Hesdorffer; Melodie R Winawer; Jo C Phelan; Wendy K Chung; Ruth Ottman Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2019-10-06 Impact factor: 5.864