Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 May 17;32(6):362.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08578-0.

Talking with clinicians about online cancer information: a survey of cancer patients and surrogate information seekers

Carma L Bylund  1 , Greenberry Taylor  2 , Taylor S Vasquez  3 , Jordan Alpert  4 , Skyler B Johnson  5 , Tien Le  3 , Samantha R Paige  3 , Julia Close  6 , Merry-Jennifer Markham  6
Affiliations

Talking with clinicians about online cancer information: a survey of cancer patients and surrogate information seekers

Carma L Bylund et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Abstract

Objectives: To describe patients' and surrogate information seekers' experiences talking to clinicians about online cancer information. To assess the impact of clinicians telling patients or surrogate seekers not to search for information online.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Sample: A total of 282 participants, including 185 individuals with cancer and 97 surrogate seekers.

Methods: Individuals were recruited through a broad consent registry and completed a 20-min survey.

Findings: Cancer patients and surrogate seekers did not differ significantly in their experiences talking with clinicians about online cancer information. Nearly all patients and surrogate seekers who were told by a clinician not to go online for cancer information did so anyway.

Implications: Interventions for improving cancer information seeking and communication with clinicians should target both patients and surrogate seekers. Clinicians should be educated about effective ways to communicate with patients and surrogate seekers about online cancer information.

Keywords: Cancer; Caregivers; Online health information seeking; Physician–patient communication; Surrogate information seekers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Finney Rutten LJ, Blake KD, Greenberg-Worisek AJ, Allen SV, Moser RP, Hesse BW (2019) Online health information seeking among US adults: measuring progress toward a Healthy People 2020 objective. Public Health Rep Nov/Dec 134(6):617–625. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354919874074 - DOI
    1. Dolce MC (2011) The internet as a source of health information: experiences of cancer survivors and caregivers with healthcare providers. Oncol Nurs Forum 38(3):353–359. https://doi.org/10.1188/11.Onf.353-359 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Anderson JG (2004) Consumers of e-health: patterns of use and barriers. Soc Sci Comput Rev 22(2):242–248. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439303262671 - DOI
    1. Ochoa-Arnedo C, Flix-Valle A, Casellas-Grau A et al (2020) An exploratory study in breast cancer of factors involved in the use and communication with health professionals of internet information. Support Care in Cancer 28(10):4989–4996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05335-x - DOI
    1. Castleton K, Fong T, Wang-Gillam A et al (2011) A survey of internet utilization among patients with cancer. Support Care in Cancer 19(8):1183–1190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0935-5 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources