The Effect of Cancer Information Seeking on Perceptions of Cancer Risks, Fatalism, and Worry Among a U.S. National Sample

ABSTRACT

Background: Information seeking is crucial in the health behavior context. Cancer information seeking may play a key role in individuals’ perceptions and subsequent health behaviors. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of cancer information seeking on perceptions of cancer worry, fatalism and risk. Methods: Data from the 2014 U.S. Health Information and National Trends Survey were used. Fatality index, lifetime risk perceptions, and cancer worry were dependent variables. Each model included cancer information seeking as the independent variable, controlling for the demographic variables (age, gender, education, income, ethnicity, and marital status), body mass index (BMI), and cancer family history. Results: A majority were females (59.76%; n = 1856). The mean age was 53 and most participants were white (52.19%). A majority had a bachelor’s degree or higher (40.11%), and 40.2% were actively seeking information on cancer. Results show that information seeking was a significant predictor of lifetime risk perceptions (β = 0.079, R² = 0.105, P < .001) and cancer worry (β = 0.129, R² = 0.081, P < .001). Discussion: Active cancer information-seekers were more likely to worry about getting cancer and perceive that they had a greater chance to get cancer. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health Educators are encouraged to pay closer attention to how cancer information is framed to ensure that information elicits health-enhancing attitudes and behaviors.