Associations between cancer-related information seeking and receiving PET imaging for routine cancer surveillance--an analysis of longitudinal survey data

Online cancer information seeking and colorectal cancer screening in China: Considering threat and coping Appraisals, and cancer fatalism

Background

Colorectal cancer is major public health concern in China. This study seeks to explore the role of online cancer information seeking in influencing colorectal cancer screening, by taking into account one's coping appraisals (i.e., self-efficacy, response efficacy), threat appraisals (i.e., perceived severity, cancer worry) and cancer fatalism.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 730 participants in China recruited from a Chinese survey company's online panels. Path analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between the key constructs.

Results

First, online cancer information seeking increased both coping appraisals and threat appraisals. Second, threat appraisal did not significantly influence cancer fatalism, but coping appraisal reduced cancer fatalism. Third, cancer fatalism had no effects on colorectal cancer screening. Lastly, online cancer information also had a direct and positive relationship with cancer screening.

Conclusions

This research emphasises the need for health organisations to offer timely cancer information to people, and educate them about the importance of cancer screening. Health authorities may also regulate online cancer information to ensure that the information is accurate and appropriate in improving people's cancer prevention and cancer screening knowledge.

Prevention of the Werther effect: compliance of the Italian newspapers to the 'reporting on suicide' recommendations

OBJECTIVES

Suicide media coverage could lead to imitation, the so-called 'Werther effect'. The World Health Organization (WHO) published specific recommendations for reporting suicide news. This study aimed to quantify the compliance of Italian newspapers with the WHO suicide reporting guidelines.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a quantitative content analysis study.

METHODS

All articles published by the three main Italian newspapers from June 2019 to May 2020 describing suicides or attempted suicides were included. The articles were analyzed using a checklist based on the WHO recommendations, which included 18 'negative' items (e.g. 'presence of the word 'suicide' in the title') and nine 'positive' items (e.g. 'the article reports the contacts of a suicide prevention hotline'). Each negative item was scored -1, and each positive item was scored +1. Multivariate linear regressions were performed to identify factors associated with lower adherence to WHO recommendations and higher social media engagement with the articles.

RESULTS

A total of 3483 articles were screened, and 110 articles were included in the final analysis. The suicidal was male in 73.6% of cases. The median checklist score was -6 (interquartile range 3). Five percent of the articles had at least one positive item. The word 'suicide' was found in 90% of the titles. Female suicides were associated with a higher checklist score (coefficient 0.81, P = 0.039). No correlation was found between the checklist score and the social media engagement of the articles.

CONCLUSIONS

Italian newspapers do not adhere completely to the WHO recommendations on reporting suicide, leading to a potential imitation effect. Public health professionals should make decision-makers and journalists aware of the importance of these recommendations.

Cancer/health communication and breast/cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans and five Asian ethnic groups

Objectives: This paper is an examination of cancer/health communication factors (i.e. cancer/health information seeking, patient-provider communication (PPC), cancer screening information from providers) and screening for breast and cervical cancer among Asian Americans and five Asian ethnic groups (Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese) in comparison to Whites. Additionally, the relationship between cancer/health communication disparity and cancer screening gaps between Asian Americans and Whites was investigated. Design: Data comes from a nationally representative sample of 2011-2014 Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS). Results: Asian Americans and most Asian ethnic-groups reported significantly lower rates of cancer/health information seeking and lower evaluations for PPC as compared to Whites, though differences within Asian ethnic groups were observed (Koreans' greater cancer/health information seeking, Japanese' higher PPC evaluation). When the cancer/health communication factors were controlled, Asian Americans' odds of cancer screening were increased. Especially, Asian Americans' odds of adhering to the breast cancer screening guideline became nearly 1.4 times greater than Whites. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that health organizations, providers, and Asian American patients' collaborative efforts to increase the access to quality cancer information, to make culturally competent but straightforward screening recommendations, and to practice effective communication in medical encounters will contribute to diminishing cancer disparities among Asian Americans.

Finding useful cancer information may reduce cancer information overload for Internet users

BACKGROUND

An excessive overload of information causes an ineffective management of information, stress and indefiniteness. Furthermore, this situation can prevent persons from learning and making conscious decisions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the cancer information overload (CIO) and the factors related to it in adults who are Internet users.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with 482 Internet users was conducted. The data were collected by using an Introductory Information Form and the Cancer Information Overload Scale.

RESULTS

It was found that the Internet was the most used information source (62.2%). The CIO of those with a university level education was found to be high (P = 0.012). It was found that the CIO of individuals who used the Internet (P = 0.031) and newspapers/magazines (P = 0.004) as sources of information was high compared with those who did not use these sources. It was determined from the information obtained that those who found the information to be beneficial and enough had a low CIO (P = 0.004, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSION

Health literacy around cancer information is challenging for frequent Internet users. Health professionals, information specialists and librarians should orient people to reliable sources.

Comparative risk assessment and cessation information seeking among smokeless tobacco users

INTRODUCTION

This research examined (1) smokeless tobacco users' comparative optimism in assessing the health and addiction risks of their own product in comparison with cigarettes, and (2) the effects of comparative optimism on cessation information-seeking.

METHODS

A nationally-representative sample from the 2015 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)-FDA was employed.

RESULTS

The analyses revealed the presence of comparative optimism in assessing both health and addiction risks among smokeless tobacco users. Comparative optimism was negatively correlated with most cessation information-seeking variables. Health bias (the health risk rating gap between the subject's own tobacco product and cigarettes) was associated with decreased intent to use cessation support. However, the health bias and addiction bias (the addiction risk rating gap between the subject's own tobacco product and cigarettes) were not consistent predictors of all cessation information-seeking variables, when covariates of socio-demographics and tobacco use status were included. In addition, positive correlations between health bias and past/recent cessation-information searches were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimisic biases may negatively influence cessation behaviors not only directly but also indirectly by influencing an important moderator, cessation information-seeking. Future interventions should prioritize dispelling the comparative optimism in perceiving risks of smokeless tobacco use, as well as provide more reliable cessation information specific to smokeless tobacco users.

Imaging in the evaluation and follow-up of early and advanced breast cancer: When, why, and how often?

Imaging in the evaluation and follow-up of patients with early or advanced breast cancer is an important aspect of cancer care. The role of imaging in breast cancer depends on the goal and should only be performed to guide clinical decisions. Imaging is valuable if a finding will change the course of treatment and improve outcomes, whether this is disease-free survival, overall survival or quality-of-life. In the last decade, imaging is often overused in oncology and contributes to rising healthcare costs. In this context, we review the data that supports the appropriate use of imaging for breast cancer patients. We will discuss: 1) the optimal use of staging imaging in both early (Stage 0-II) and locally advanced (Stage III) breast cancer, 2) the role of surveillance imaging to detect recurrent disease in Stage 0-III breast cancer and 3) how patients with metastatic breast cancer should be followed with advanced imaging.