Hallie Dau1,2, Khalid Saad El Din1,2, Helen McTaggart-Cowan3,4, Jonathan M Loree3,5, Sharlene Gill3,5, Mary A De Vera6,7. 1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. 2. Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. 3. BC Cancer, 855 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. 5. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. 6. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. mdevera@mail.ubc.ca. 7. Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. mdevera@mail.ubc.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate health information seeking behaviors in yCRC (young onset colorectal cancer, diagnosed ≤ 50 years) and aCRC (average-age onset colorectal cancer, diagnosed ≥ 50 years). METHODS: We administered an international, Internet-based survey to ask individuals diagnosed with CRC how they seek health information, including sources sought and utilization behaviors. We also asked participants their preferences for digital technologies. RESULTS: In total 1125 individuals including 455 with yCRC (68.6% female) and 670 with aCRC (53.5% female) participated. There were similar frequencies of seeking among participants with yCRC and aCRC across all sources except for the Internet. Healthcare providers were the most frequently sought source with similar proportions of participants indicating their response as "always" (yCRC, 43.7% vs. aCRC, 43.2%, p = 0.91). We also observed differences in utilization behaviors with more participants with yCRC using the Internet first when seeking information (yCRC 31.6% vs. aCRC 24.3%, p < 0.05) and those with aCRC seeking healthcare providers first (aCRC 61.9% vs. yCRC 45.5%, p < 0.05). With respect to digital technologies, we found a higher proportion of yCRC participants owning smartphones and indicating use of apps related to health/wellness and cancer. CONCLUSION: Individuals with yCRC and aCRC similarly sought the same resources for health information on CRC. However, they differed with respect to utilization behaviors, particularly a greater reliance on digital technologies among individuals with yCRC. These have implications for informing age-specific resources and information to support patients.
PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate health information seeking behaviors in yCRC (young onset colorectal cancer, diagnosed ≤ 50 years) and aCRC (average-age onset colorectal cancer, diagnosed ≥ 50 years). METHODS: We administered an international, Internet-based survey to ask individuals diagnosed with CRC how they seek health information, including sources sought and utilization behaviors. We also asked participants their preferences for digital technologies. RESULTS: In total 1125 individuals including 455 with yCRC (68.6% female) and 670 with aCRC (53.5% female) participated. There were similar frequencies of seeking among participants with yCRC and aCRC across all sources except for the Internet. Healthcare providers were the most frequently sought source with similar proportions of participants indicating their response as "always" (yCRC, 43.7% vs. aCRC, 43.2%, p = 0.91). We also observed differences in utilization behaviors with more participants with yCRC using the Internet first when seeking information (yCRC 31.6% vs. aCRC 24.3%, p < 0.05) and those with aCRC seeking healthcare providers first (aCRC 61.9% vs. yCRC 45.5%, p < 0.05). With respect to digital technologies, we found a higher proportion of yCRC participants owning smartphones and indicating use of apps related to health/wellness and cancer. CONCLUSION: Individuals with yCRC and aCRC similarly sought the same resources for health information on CRC. However, they differed with respect to utilization behaviors, particularly a greater reliance on digital technologies among individuals with yCRC. These have implications for informing age-specific resources and information to support patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Colorectal cancer; Health information; Survey
Authors: Charles R Rogers; Ellen Brooks; Karen Curtin; Mary A De Vera; Fares Qeadan; Tiana N Rogers; Ethan Petersen; Phuong Gallagher; Curt Pesmen; Wenora Johnson; Candace Henley; Walter Hickman; Elaine Newcomb; Kevin M Korous; Margaret A Handley Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-12-03 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Hallie Dau; Abdollah Safari; Khalid Saad El Din; Helen McTaggart-Cowan; Jonathan M Loree; Sharlene Gill; Mary A De Vera Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2020-10-27 Impact factor: 4.430