Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cancer-related information sought by the general public: Evidence from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, 2002–2003

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background. We examined the main topics of inquiry (Subjects of Interaction—SOI) of calls made by the general public to the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service’s (CIS) 1-800-4-CANCER telephone information service.Methods. We analyzed data from 37,620 callers to the CIS between September 2002 and August 2003. We conducted frequencies, chi-squares, and logistic regressions to ascertain sample characteristics and sociodemographic correlates of each SOI.Results. We found differences in discussion of the 7 main SOI by age, sex, ethnicity, race, and education.Conclusions. Findings inform the CIS’ and other organizations’ efforts to develop and disseminate cancer information.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Viswanath K. Science and society: the communications revolution and cancer control. Nat Rev Cancer. 2005;5:828–835.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bowen D, Hickman KM, Powers D. Importance of psychological variables in understanding risk perceptions and breast cancer screening of African American women. Womens Health. 1997;3:227–242.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Breslow RA, Sorkin JD, Frey CM, Kessler LG. Americans’ knowledge of cancer risk and survival. Prev Med. 1997;26:170–177.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Buckland S. Unmet needs for health information: a literature review. Health Libr Rev. 1994;11:82–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cotugna N, Subar AF, Heimendinger J, Kahle L. Nutrition and cancer prevention knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices: the 1987 National Health Interview Survey. J Am Diet Assoc. 1992;92:963–968.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Finney Rutten LJ, Arora NK, Bakos AD, Aziz N, Rowland J. Information needs and sources of information among cancer patients: a systematic review of research (1980–2003). Patient Educ Couns. 2005;57:250–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Freimuth VS, Stein JA, Kean TJ. Searching for Health Information: The Cancer Information Service Model. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson JD. Cancer-Related Information Seeking. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Johnson JD, Case DO, Andrews JE, Allard SL. Genomics—the perfect information-seeking research problem. J Health Commun. 2005;10:323–329.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Johnson JD, Meischke H. Cancer information: women’s source and content preferences. J Health Care Mark. 1991;11:37–44.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Johnson JD, Meishcke H. Differences in evaluations of communication channels for cancer-related information. J Behav Med. 1992;15:429–445.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson JD, Meischke H. Women’s preferences for cancer-related information from specific types of mass media. Health Care Women Int. 1994;15:23–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lipkus IM, Iden D, Terrenoire J, Feaganes JR. Relationships among breast cancer concern, risk perceptions, and interest in genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility among African-American women with and without a family history of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1999;8:533–539.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. McDonald PA, Thorne DD, Pearson JC, Adams-Campbell LL. Perceptions and knowledge of breast cancer among African-American women residing in public housing. Ethn Dis. 1999;9:81–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Paul C, Tzelepis F, Walsh RA, Girgis A, King L, McKenzie J. Has the investment in public cancer education delivered observable changes in knowledge over the past 10 years? Cancer. 2003;97:2931–2939.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Venn MJ, Darling E, Dickens C, Quine L, Rutter DR, Slevin ML. The experience and impact of contacting a cancer information service. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 1996;5:38–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Darrow SL, Speyer J, Marcus AC, Ter Maat J, Krome D. Coping with cancer: the impact of the Cancer Information Service on patients and significant others. J Health Commun. 1998;3 (pt 6 suppl):86–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Davis SW, Fleisher L, Ter Maat J, Muha C, Laepke K. Treatment and clinical trials decision making: the impact of the Cancer Information Service. J Health Commun. 1998;3 (pt 5 suppl):71–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Finney Rutten LJ, Squiers L, Treiman K. Requests for information by family and friends of cancer patients calling the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service. Psychooncology [serial online]. November 2, 2005.

  20. Maibach EW, Davis SW, Ter Maat J, Rivera N. Promoting cancer prevention and screening: the impact of the Cancer Information Service. J Health Commun. 1998;3 (pt 7 suppl) 97–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Manfredi C, Czaja R, Buis M, Derk D. Patient use of treatment-related information received from the Cancer Information Service. Cancer. 1993;71:1326–1337.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Muha C, Smith KS, Baum S, Ter Maat J, Ward JA. The use and selection of sources in information seeking: the Cancer Information Service experience. J Health Commun. 1998;3 (suppl pt 8):109–120.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Squiers LB, Finney Rutten LJ, Treiman K, Hesse B. Cancer patients’ information needs across the cancer care continuum: evidence from the Cancer Information Service. J Health Commun. 2005; (special issue): 15–34.

  24. Thomsen CA, Ter Maat J. Evaluating the Cancer Information Service: a model for health communications. J Health Commun. 1998;3(suppl pt 1):1–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ward JA, Baum S, Ter Maat J, Thomsen CA, Maibach EW. The value and impact of the Cancer Information Service telephone service. J Health Commun. 1998;3(suppl pt 4):50–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Squiers LB, Finney Rutten LJ, Atienza AA, Treiman, K, Moser RP, Hesse B. Awareness of the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). J Health Commun. In press.

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Lila J. Finney Rutten PhD, MPH

    Present address: , Executive Boulevard, Room 4051A, MSC 7365, 20892-7337, Bethesda, MD

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD

    Lila J. Finney Rutten PhD, MPH

  2. Office of Cancer Information Service, Office of Communications, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

    Linda Squiers PhD

  3. Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (BH)

    Bradford Hesse PhD

Authors
  1. Lila J. Finney Rutten PhD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Linda Squiers PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bradford Hesse PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lila J. Finney Rutten PhD, MPH.

Additional information

Supported in whole or in part by federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health under contract N01-CO-124000. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Finney Rutten, L.J., Squiers, L. & Hesse, B. Cancer-related information sought by the general public: Evidence from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, 2002–2003. J Canc Educ 22, 91–98 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174355

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174355

Keywords

Search

Navigation