Gastrointestinal cancer web sites: how do they address patients' concerns?

Large-data contextualizations of social determinant associations in pediatric head and neck cancers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Prior investigations in social determinants of health (SDoH) and their impact on pediatric head and neck cancers are limited by the narrow scope of cancer types and SDoH being studied while lacking inquiry on the interrelational contribution of varied SDoH in real-world contexts. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current research tackling these shortcomings of SDoH-based studies in head and neck cancer and to discuss means of applying these findings in prospective initiatives and implementations.

RECENT FINDINGS

Through leveraging contemporary, large-data analyses measuring diverse social vulnerabilities, several studies have identified comprehensive delineations of which social disparities contribute the largest quantifiable impact on the care of head and neck cancer patients. Progressing from prior SDoH-based research of the decade, these studies contextualize the effect of social vulnerabilities and have laid the foundations to begin addressing these issues in the complex, modern-day environment of interrelatedsocial factors.

SUMMARY

Social determinants of health markedly affect pediatric head and neck cancer care and prognosis in complex and surprising ways. Modern-day tools and analyses derived from large-data techniques have unveiled the quantifiable underpinnings of how SDoH impact these pathologies.

Relative Quality of Internet-Derived Oesophageal Cancer Information

Worldwide internet access is increasing exponentially. The UK Government Office for National Statistics reported that between 2002 and 2009 the proportion of UK households with internet access increased from 46% to 70%. Between 2007 and 2009 the proportion of UK adults using the internet to access health information rose from 27% to 42%. Similar situations exist in Continental Europe and the USA, where 52% of internet users and 61% of adults respectively search online for medical information. In 2003 it was estimated that 4.5% of all internet searches globally were for health related information. Moreover, patients now frequently choose to seek health information online. Indeed Hesse et al reported that almost one in two patients search the internet before consulting a physician.