Modeling the Mediating and Moderating Roles of Risk Perceptions, Efficacy, Desired Uncertainty, and Worry in Information Seeking-Cancer Screening Relationship Using HINTS 2017 Data

ABSTRACT

Despite mixed findings in the literature, health information seeking is considered as a promising antecedent of health behavior and outcome. However, little research has been conducted to identify factors that explain the health information seeking-health behavior relationship. In the contexts of breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screening, this research utilized recently collected Health Information National Trends Survey data (HINTS 5 Cycle 1) to examine whether, among the population at risk of cancer, previous cancer information seeking influenced cancer screening via perceptions of risk and efficacy, desired uncertainty, and worry. The results indicated that previous cancer information seeking had a direct effect on cancer screening. Across the three cancer screening behaviors, desired uncertainty mediated the relationship between previous cancer information seeking and screening behavior. Worry about getting cancer moderated and mediated the relationship between cancer information seeking and cervical cancer screening. Moreover, desired uncertainty and perceived susceptibility respectively interacted with previous cancer information seeking to influence breast cancer screening. Perceptions of risk and efficacy had limited effects on cancer screening. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.