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Websites, Websites Everywhere: How Thyroid Cancer Patients Use the Internet

Journal of Cancer Education volume 35, pages 1177–1183 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Thyroid cancer incidence rates and Internet use are both increasing. Thyroid cancer is common in young patients, who are likely to use the Internet. This study aims to characterize thyroid cancer patient Internet use and search patterns, usability of online resources, and effects on clinical care. From May to December 2017, inclusive, patients with thyroid cancer attending two tertiary cancer centers were invited to complete a survey about Internet use. Thirty-nine of 72 questionnaires were returned (54%). Ninety-seven percent of participants used the Internet, and 87% had looked for thyroid cancer information. The majority (94%) searched on Google. Patients most often looked for information about treatment (94%) and symptom management (76%). Many patients evaluated content quality by comparing several resources (71%), discussing with a physician (56%) or using a credible academic or government site (53%). Online information was somewhat hard to understand for 32%, but 91% found it useful. Over half (60%) of treatment decisions were affected by web resources, and information helped 50% of patients make decisions with their physicians. Respondents highlighted a lack of resources on survivorship and uncommon tumors such as medullary or anaplastic cancer. Physicians should recognize that patients overwhelmingly access online information, which often impacts patients’ decision-making. Clinicians can guide thyroid cancer patients through abundant web-based information and assist in interpreting this information. Educators can use this information to guide resource development, tailoring content and design to thyroid cancer patients’ needs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, MD Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, 317 - 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, BC, Canada

    Kimberley Chang

  2. BC Cancer – Vancouver; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada

    Eric Berthelet, Sarah Hamilton, Eric Tran, Jonn Wu & Paris-Ann Ingledew

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX, 77030-4009, USA

    Elizabeth Grubbs

  4. BC Cancer – Surrey; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, 13750 96th Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 1Z2, Canada

    Anand Karvat

Authors
  1. Kimberley Chang
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  2. Eric Berthelet
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  3. Elizabeth Grubbs
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  4. Sarah Hamilton
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  5. Anand Karvat
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  6. Eric Tran
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  7. Jonn Wu
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  8. Paris-Ann Ingledew
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Correspondence to Paris-Ann Ingledew.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Chang, K., Berthelet, E., Grubbs, E. et al. Websites, Websites Everywhere: How Thyroid Cancer Patients Use the Internet. J Canc Educ 35, 1177–1183 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01576-5

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