Health information sources of individuals with cancer and their family members

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand health information sources of individuals and families impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Overall, the findings support the Freimuth, Stein, and Kean (1989) model of health information acquisition. The cancer patients and family members who participated reported having significantly more health information along the continuum of cancer care, from causes to prevention, after a cancer diagnosis. Although a wide variety of interpersonal and mediated information sources are available, participants reported that the only consistently (88.1%) used source of information was doctors. The most important information sources were, in descending order, doctors, family members, nurses, friends, the Internet, other medical personnel, and other patients. Individuals, however, were most satisfied with family and friends as sources of information, followed by nurses, other patients, and doctors. Patients and family members rated the importance of and their satisfaction with various information sources differently. Patients rated nurses, other medical personnel, and support groups as more important than did family members, and patients were significantly more satisfied with doctors and nurses, whereas family members were significantly more satisfied with the Internet.