Nynikka R Palmer1, Nancy E Avis2, Nora F Fino3, Janet A Tooze3, Kathryn E Weaver2. 1. Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: nynikka.palmer@ucsf.edu. 2. Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 3. Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study describes the most common cancer-related health information needs among rural cancer survivors and characteristics associated with reporting more information needs. METHODS: Rural breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors, two to five years post-diagnosis, identified from an institutional cancer registry, completed a mailed/telephone-administered survey. Respondents were asked about 23 health information needs in eight domains (tests and treatment, side effects and symptoms, health promotion, fertility, interpersonal, occupational, emotional, and insurance). Poisson regression models were used to assess relationships between number of health information needs and demographic and cancer characteristics. RESULTS: Participants (n = 170) reported an average of four health information needs, with the most common domains being: side effects and symptoms (58 %), health promotion (54 %), and tests and treatment (41 %). Participants who were younger (compared to 5-year increase, rate ratio [RR] = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.21), ethnic minority (RR = 1.89, 95 % CI = 1.17-3.06), less educated (RR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.00-2.23), and financially stressed (RR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.25-2.81) had a greater number of information needs. CONCLUSIONS: Younger, ethnic minority, less educated, and financially strained rural survivors have the greatest need for informational support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The provision of health information for rural cancer survivors should consider type of cancer, treatments received, and sociocultural differences to tailor information provided.
OBJECTIVE: This study describes the most common cancer-related health information needs among rural cancer survivors and characteristics associated with reporting more information needs. METHODS: Rural breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors, two to five years post-diagnosis, identified from an institutional cancer registry, completed a mailed/telephone-administered survey. Respondents were asked about 23 health information needs in eight domains (tests and treatment, side effects and symptoms, health promotion, fertility, interpersonal, occupational, emotional, and insurance). Poisson regression models were used to assess relationships between number of health information needs and demographic and cancer characteristics. RESULTS:Participants (n = 170) reported an average of four health information needs, with the most common domains being: side effects and symptoms (58 %), health promotion (54 %), and tests and treatment (41 %). Participants who were younger (compared to 5-year increase, rate ratio [RR] = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.21), ethnic minority (RR = 1.89, 95 % CI = 1.17-3.06), less educated (RR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.00-2.23), and financially stressed (RR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.25-2.81) had a greater number of information needs. CONCLUSIONS: Younger, ethnic minority, less educated, and financially strained rural survivors have the greatest need for informational support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The provision of health information for rural cancer survivors should consider type of cancer, treatments received, and sociocultural differences to tailor information provided.
Authors: Emily Haozous; Ardith Z Doorenbos; George Demiris; Linda H Eaton; Cara Towle; Anjana Kundu; Dedra Buchwald Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2010-12-22 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: D Keith McInnes; Paul D Cleary; Kevin D Stein; Lin Ding; C Christina Mehta; John Z Ayanian Journal: Cancer Date: 2008-09-15 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Mariëtte N Verkissen; Nicole P M Ezendam; Mirjam P Fransen; Marie-Louise Essink-Bot; Mieke J Aarts; Kim A H Nicolaije; M Caroline Vos; Olga Husson Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2014-03-20
Authors: Gill Hubbard; Christine Venning; Alison Walker; Karen Scanlon; Richard G Kyle Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-11-14 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Cara V James; Ramal Moonesinghe; Shondelle M Wilson-Frederick; Jeffrey E Hall; Ana Penman-Aguilar; Karen Bouye Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2017-11-17
Authors: Sarah H Nash; Julia Dilley; Claire Siekaniec; David O'Brien; Rosa Avila; Jessica Quinn Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2022-10-02 Impact factor: 2.532
Authors: Kate M Gunn; Ian Olver; Xiomara Skrabal Ross; Nathan Harrison; Patricia M Livingston; Carlene Wilson Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2021-03-30 Impact factor: 6.639