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Wecker H, Maier D, Ziehfreund S, Fox FAU, Erhard I, Vehreschild JJ, Zink A. Cancer incidence and digital information seeking in Germany: a retrospective observational study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10184. [PMID: 38702333 PMCID: PMC11068859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60267-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Awareness is vital for cancer prevention. US studies show a strong link between web searches and cancer incidence. In Europe, the relationship remains unclear. This study characterizes regional and temporal relationships between cancer incidence and web searches and investigates the content of searches related to breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, and testicular cancer, brain tumors, and melanoma in Germany (July 2018-December 2019). Aggregate data from Google Ads Keyword Planner and national cancer registry data were analyzed. Spearman's correlation coefficient (rS) examined associations between cancer incidence and web search, repeated measures correlation (rrm) assessed time trends and searches were qualitatively categorized. The frequency of malignancy-related web searches correlated with cancer incidence (rS = 0.88, P = 0.007), e.g., breast cancer had more queries than the lower-incidence cervical cancer. Seasonally, incidence and searches followed similar patterns, peaking in spring and fall, except for melanoma. Correlations between entity incidence and searches (0.037 ≤ rrm ≤ 0.208) varied regionally. Keywords mainly focused on diagnosis, symptoms, and general information, with variations between entities. In Germany, web searches correlated with regional and seasonal incidence, revealing differences between North/East and South/West. These insights may help improve prevention strategies by identifying regional needs and assessing impact of awareness campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Wecker
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Maier
- Medical Department 2 (Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases), Center for Internal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ziehfreund
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabienne A U Fox
- Medical Department 2 (Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases), Center for Internal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ian Erhard
- Medical Department 2 (Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases), Center for Internal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Janne Vehreschild
- Medical Department 2 (Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases), Center for Internal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department I for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Zink
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Duimel SLL, Linn AJ, Smets EMA, Smit ES, van Weert JCM. Profiling Cancer Patients Based on Their Motives for Seeking Informational and Emotional Support Online. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 38:3223-3237. [PMID: 36415021 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2144287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding why patients seek informational and/or emotional support online is fundamental to providing patients with accurate and reliable support that is tailored to their needs, preferences, and personal situation. Based on the stress and coping theory and uses and gratifications theory (UGT), this study aimed to identify theoretically-founded profiles of cancer patients differing in their motives for seeking informational and/or emotional support online, and to compare the profiles in terms of patients' psychological and background characteristics, and perception of health care services. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted, using questionnaire data from patients visiting a large Dutch health website (N = 181). This revealed three distinctive profiles, i.e., overall seekers (n = 83, 46.0%), occasional information seekers (n = 83, 46.0%), and contact exchangers (n = 15, 8.0%). Patients across these profiles differed in their eHealth literacy, with the contact exchangers being more eHealth literate than the overall seekers and occasional information seekers. The results can be used to create awareness among health care providers, web designers, and patient organizations on different types of cancer patients with different motives for seeking informational and/or emotional support online, and help them to tailor recommendations to and development of (online) sources that fit patients' needs. Future research could further investigate the integration of stress and coping theory with UGT by acknowledging the interplay of different coping strategies and different gratifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song L L Duimel
- Department of Communication, Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam
| | - Annemiek J Linn
- Department of Communication, Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam
| | - Ellen M A Smets
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam
| | - Eline S Smit
- Department of Communication, Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam
| | - Julia C M van Weert
- Department of Communication, Amsterdam School of Communication Research/ASCoR, University of Amsterdam
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Vromans RD, Hommes S, Clouth FJ, Lo-Fo-Wong DNN, Verbeek XAAM, van de Poll-Franse L, Pauws S, Krahmer E. Need for numbers: assessing cancer survivors' needs for personalized and generic statistical information. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022; 22:260. [PMID: 36199092 PMCID: PMC9535944 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-02005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Statistical information (e.g., on long-term survival or side effects) may be valuable for healthcare providers to share with their patients to facilitate shared decision making on treatment options. In this pre-registered study, we assessed cancer survivors’ need for generic (population-based) versus personalized (tailored towards patient/tumor characteristics) statistical information after their diagnosis. We examined how information coping style, subjective numeracy, and anxiety levels of survivors relate to these needs and identified statistical need profiles. Additionally, we qualitatively explored survivors’ considerations for (not) wanting statistical information. Methods Cancer survivors’ need for statistics regarding incidence, survival, recurrence, side effects and quality of life were assessed with an online questionnaire. For each of these topics, survivors were asked to think back to their first cancer diagnosis and to indicate their need for generic and personalized statistics on a 4-point scale (‘not at all’- ‘very much’). Associations between information coping style, subjective numeracy, and anxiety with need for generic and personalized statistics were examined with Pearson’s correlations. Statistical need profiles were identified using latent class analysis. Considerations for (not) wanting statistics were analyzed qualitatively. Results Overall, cancer survivors (n = 174) had a higher need for personalized than for generic statistics (p < .001, d = 0.74). Need for personalized statistics was associated with higher subjective numeracy (r = .29) and an information-seeking coping style (r = .41). Three statistical need profiles were identified (1) a strong need for both generic and personalized statistics (34%), (2) a stronger need for personalized than for generic statistics (55%), and (3) a little need for both generic and personalized statistics (11%). Considerations for wanting personalized cancer statistics ranged from feelings of being in control to making better informed decisions about treatment. Considerations for not wanting statistics related to negative experience with statistics and to the unpredictability of future events for individual patients. Conclusions In light of the increased possibilities for using personalized statistics in clinical practice and decision aids, it appears that most cancer survivors want personalized statistical information during treatment decision-making. Subjective numeracy and information coping style seem important factors influencing this need. We encourage further development and implementation of data-driven personalized decision support technologies in oncological care to support patients in treatment decision making. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-022-02005-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben D Vromans
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5037 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands. .,Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Saar Hommes
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5037 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.,Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Felix J Clouth
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Statistics and Methodology, Tilburg School of Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Deborah N N Lo-Fo-Wong
- Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xander A A M Verbeek
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lonneke van de Poll-Franse
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg School of Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.,Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steffen Pauws
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5037 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.,Collaborative Care Solutions, Philips Research, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Emiel Krahmer
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5037 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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