Lawson Eng1, Jackie Bender2, Katrina Hueniken3, Shayan Kassirian4, Laura Mitchell5, Reenika Aggarwal4, Chelsea Paulo4, Elliot C Smith4, Ilana Geist4, Karmugi Balaratnam4, Alexander Magony4, Mindy Liang4, Dongyang Yang6, Jennifer M Jones2, M Catherine Brown4, Wei Xu7, Samir C Grover8, Shabbir M H Alibhai9, Geoffrey Liu10, Abha A Gupta11. 1. Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: lawson.eng@utoronto.ca. 2. Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 7. Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 8. Division of Gastroenterology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 9. Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 10. Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: geoffrey.liu@uhn.ca. 11. Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatric Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: abha.gupta@uhn.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The internet and social media provide information and support to cancer survivors, and adolescent and young adults (AYA, age < 40 years), adults, and older (age 65+ years) cancer survivors may have different needs. We evaluated the impact of age on cancer-related internet and social media use and confidence in evaluating online information for cancer-care decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cancer survivors completed a convenience cross-sectional survey evaluating their cancer-related internet and social media use and their confidence in using these resources for decision making. Multivariable regression models evaluated the impact of age on usage patterns and confidence. RESULTS: Among 371 cancer survivors, 58 were older adults and 138 were AYA; 74% used the internet and 39% social media for cancer care; 48% felt confident in using online information for cancer-care decisions. Compared to adult survivors, there was a non-significant trend for older survivors to be less likely to use the internet for cancer-care information(aOR = 0.49, 95% CI[0.23-1.03], P = .06), while AYA were more likely to use social media for cancer-care (aOR = 1.79[1.08-2.99], P = .03). Although confidence at using online information for cancer-care decision making did not differ between age groups, increasing age had a non-significant trend towards reduced confidence (aOR = 0.99 per year [0.97-1.00], P = .09). Most commonly researched and desired online information were causes/risk factors/symptoms, treatment options, and prognosis/outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Age may influence the use of internet and social media for cancer-care, and older cancer survivors may be less confident at evaluating online information for cancer-care decision making. Future research should explore other strategies at meeting the informational needs of older cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVES: The internet and social media provide information and support to cancer survivors, and adolescent and young adults (AYA, age < 40 years), adults, and older (age 65+ years) cancer survivors may have different needs. We evaluated the impact of age on cancer-related internet and social media use and confidence in evaluating online information for cancer-care decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Cancer survivors completed a convenience cross-sectional survey evaluating their cancer-related internet and social media use and their confidence in using these resources for decision making. Multivariable regression models evaluated the impact of age on usage patterns and confidence. RESULTS: Among 371 cancer survivors, 58 were older adults and 138 were AYA; 74% used the internet and 39% social media for cancer care; 48% felt confident in using online information for cancer-care decisions. Compared to adult survivors, there was a non-significant trend for older survivors to be less likely to use the internet for cancer-care information(aOR = 0.49, 95% CI[0.23-1.03], P = .06), while AYA were more likely to use social media for cancer-care (aOR = 1.79[1.08-2.99], P = .03). Although confidence at using online information for cancer-care decision making did not differ between age groups, increasing age had a non-significant trend towards reduced confidence (aOR = 0.99 per year [0.97-1.00], P = .09). Most commonly researched and desired online information were causes/risk factors/symptoms, treatment options, and prognosis/outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Age may influence the use of internet and social media for cancer-care, and older cancer survivors may be less confident at evaluating online information for cancer-care decision making. Future research should explore other strategies at meeting the informational needs of older cancer survivors.
Authors: Linda Trinh; Catherine M Sabiston; Shabbir M H Alibhai; Jennifer M Jones; Kelly P Arbour-Nicitopoulos; Daniel Santa Mina; Kristin Campbell; Guy E Faulkner Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-04-28 Impact factor: 4.135
Authors: Carla Vlooswijk; Olga Husson; Emiel J Krahmer; Rhodé Bijlsma; Suzanne E J Kaal; Sophia H E Sleeman; Lonneke V van de Poll-Franse; Winette T A van der Graaf; Nadine Bol; Mies C van Eenbergen Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2021-12-16 Impact factor: 6.639