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Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke: implications for cessation interventions

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Abstract

Objective

To identify patterns of Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke.

Methods

Baseline assessment data were collected from 2005 to 2008 for the Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2) study, a web-based smoking cessation intervention for childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Participants were surveyed about their Internet access and use. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial data also were collected.

Results

Internet access and use was widespread among PFH-2 participants. However, older, less-educated, and female survivors reported less frequent Internet use, even when they had access to the Internet at home and/or at work. These associations were significant in multivariable analyses.

Conclusions

Although the digital divide is narrowing, Internet use and engagement remains socially patterned. web-based prevention interventions are a promising method of reaching this geographically dispersed, high-risk population, but certain subgroups—particularly older and lower socioeconomic status survivors—might be missed by this approach.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants 5 R01-CA106914-05 and K05-CA124415 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Funding support for the lead author was also provided through NCI by the Harvard Education Program in Cancer Prevention and Control (5 R25-CA057711-17). The authors would like to thank Nancy Klockson for her assistance in manuscript preparation, as well as the participating survivorship programs: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Princess Margaret Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Partners HealthCare.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Rebekah H. Nagler & Karen M. Emmons

  2. Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, LW 601, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Rebekah H. Nagler, Kim Sprunck-Harrild & Karen M. Emmons

  3. School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    Elaine Puleo

Authors
  1. Rebekah H. Nagler
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  2. Elaine Puleo
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  3. Kim Sprunck-Harrild
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  4. Karen M. Emmons
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebekah H. Nagler.

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Nagler, R.H., Puleo, E., Sprunck-Harrild, K. et al. Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke: implications for cessation interventions. Cancer Causes Control 23, 647–652 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-9926-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-9926-9

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