Cancer Information Seekers in China: A Preliminary Profile

Abstract

Cancer is now the leading cause of death in China. Effective communication about cancer risk and prevention is an important component of cancer control. Yet, research in this area is very limited in China. This study used probability sample survey data from 2 Chinese cities (Beijing and Hefei, Anhui Province) to investigate potential predictors of self-initiated cancer information seeking. Analysis showed that cancer information seekers in China were likely to be married, relatively educated, earning modest incomes, living in rural areas, smoking occasionally, having a family cancer history, relatively trusting of the media for health information, somewhat knowledgeable about cancer, having nonfatalistic attitudes about cancer, and seeing a personal need for more cancer information. The pattern of results, particularly the lack of influence of personal health and risk perception factors, highlights the possibility that seeking for others might be more prevalent than seeking for self in China. Overall, findings suggest that emphasizing family need and mobilizing family support might be a productive approach to cancer communication interventions in China.

Notes

¹Response rate for the survey was not available. However, because the Center for Health Education is a branch of the government and the survey was conducted with strong administrative support, including the assistance of local residents’ committees, refusal rate was estimated to be well below 5%.

²The survey included a question about health insurance, which is typically considered an important enabling factor. However, the data showed that only 3% of the respondents did not have any form of health insurance. Because of its extreme distribution, this variable was not included in the current analysis.

³Personal cancer diagnosis was measured in the survey but only 20 respondents (less than 1% of the sample) reported ever having cancer. This variable was not included in the analysis.