Disparities and antecedents to cancer prevention information seeking among cancer patients and caregivers attending a Minority-Serving Cancer Center

Abstract

Cancer prevention information (CPI) needs are common among cancer patients and their families, but processes of CPI seeking following cancer diagnosis are largely unknown. The goal of this study was to examine antecedents of CPI seeking among a diverse sample of patients and their caregivers. Findings revealed high levels of perceived personal importance of CPI and motivational factors (health consciousness), but almost half of respondents never sought CPI. Non-seekers were more likely to have lower household income and educational attainment. Minority respondents were less likely to seek CPI compared with non-Hispanic Whites, with increased risk among Spanish-speaking Hispanics. However, only educational attainment, health consciousness, and marital status were significant predictors of CPI seeking in the final logistic regression model. These disparities demonstrate the need for communication interventions in healthcare settings.

Keywords:

• Communication barriers
• Health communication

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by an American Cancer Society Institutional Review Grant #192. The author was supported by a National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute Grant number: 3U10CA086780-10S1. The author would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to this project. Data collection and entry were done by Elizabeth Luna, Aubrey Meissnest, Anh Phuong Nguyen, Meghan O'Leary and Danielle Parker. Carla Sakiestewa provided invaluable administrative help and support. Dr Melanie Royce generously shared her clinical perspective during the different stages of this project. Drs Edward Bedrick and John Oetzel advised on the statistical design and analysis of the data. The patients and family members who shared their experiences with us.

Author information

Tamar Ginossar, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico, and an Associate Member of the University of New Mexico Cancer Center. Her research focuses on health communication in the context of culture and health disparities.