Cancer Information Needs in Rural Areas

Although cancer presents obstacles for all who experience it, persons in rural communities must negotiate additional challenges. This study determined the cancer information (CI) needs and the CI-seeking behavior and preferences among rural-dwelling persons. Patients (N = 801) ≥ 50 years of age seen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health communication 2005-04, Vol.10 (3), p.199-208
Main Authors: Engelman, Kimberly K., Perpich, Denise L., Peterson, Shelly L., Hall, Matthew A., Ellerbeck, Edward F., Stanton, Annette L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to health care
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Communication
Female
General aspects
Health Education
Health services
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health technology assessment
Humans
Information dissemination
Information Services - statistics & numerical data
Kansas
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasms
Physician-Patient Relations
Rural areas
Rural Population
Tumors
U.S.A
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Summary:Although cancer presents obstacles for all who experience it, persons in rural communities must negotiate additional challenges. This study determined the cancer information (CI) needs and the CI-seeking behavior and preferences among rural-dwelling persons. Patients (N = 801) ≥ 50 years of age seen in 36 rural Kansas primary care practices completed a Cancer Care Information Needs Survey (CCINS); physicians completed a cancer resource knowledge and preference survey. Of the 801 patients, 184 (23%) reported a CI need. Of these 184 patients, 45% reported either not discussing cancer or having insufficient discussion time with their physicians; 44% needed more information after consulting their physician. Patients more likely to report a CI need were young, female, Internet users, persons with a prior cancer diagnosis, and persons seeing male physicians or physicians in group/multispecialty practices. Patients and physicians were unfamiliar with services provided by national cancer organizations. Physicians are a primary CI source; however, patients who need CI report insufficient cancer discussion time with their physician and need more CI after consulting their physician. Promoting access to national CI sources could bridge the CI needs gap that exists in rural areas currently.
ISSN:1081-0730
1087-0415
DOI:10.1080/10810730590934217