Health-Related Information-Seeking Behaviors and Preferences Among Mexican Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Understanding the preferred sources of health-related information among patients with cancer is essential for designing successful cancer education and prevention strategies. However, little is known about health-related information-seeking practices among patients living in low- and middle-income countries. We studied the preferred sources of health-related information among Mexican patients with cancer and explored which factors influence these choices. The health-related information-seeking practices among patients with cancer treated at a public hospital in Mexico City were evaluated using questions from the Spanish Version of the Health Information National Trends Survey. The characteristics of patients who sought health-related information, and of those who chose the internet as their preferred source of information, were analyzed. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. One hundred forty-eight patients answered the survey (median age 60 years, 70% female), of which 88 (59%) had sought for health-related information. On multivariate analysis, the only characteristic associated with lower odds of seeking health-related information was increasing age (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.97). Sixty-one respondents (69%) listed the internet as their preferred source of health-related information. On multivariate analysis, only being of the female gender (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.3-18.3) was related with higher odds of preferring other sources of information over the internet. Among Mexican patients with cancer, the Internet is the most widely used information source. Older age was the characteristic most strongly associated with not seeking health-related information, while being female was strongly associated with preferring other sources of information over the Internet.

Beliefs and Information Seeking in Patients With Cancer in Southwest China: Survey Study

“…Our analyses also revealed distinct patterns in the information-seeking behavior among different groups of cancer patients. We found that older patients and those who were less educated were less likely to seek information, which is consistent with a previous study [ 26 ] conducted in Mexico. This study focused on health-related information-seeking behaviors and preferences among Mexican patients with cancer, showing that older age was the characteristic most strongly associated with not seeking information [ 26 ].…”

“…We found that older patients and those who were less educated were less likely to seek information, which is consistent with a previous study [ 26 ] conducted in Mexico. This study focused on health-related information-seeking behaviors and preferences among Mexican patients with cancer, showing that older age was the characteristic most strongly associated with not seeking information [ 26 ]. Moreover, similar results have been found in some high-income countries; Smith-McLallen et al [ 50 ] found that level of education and age significantly contributed to the prediction of patients’ seeking intentions in Pennsylvania, while they also indicated that older individuals and those who had lower levels of education were less likely to seek out information from sources other than their doctors.…”

“…Based on theoretical frameworks such as the Health Belief Model [ 22 ] and the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking [ 23 ], previous studies [ 19 , 24 - 26 ] have found differences between information seekers and nonseekers among cancer patients. These studies investigated demographic characteristics (eg, gender, age, income, education) first, and then explored the effects of social determinants (such as having a regular health care provider, salience, cancer type, cancer stage, and treatment type); however, among the different studies, the effects of cancer type and cancer stage were often found to be inconsistent.…”

Medical and information needs among young women with breast cancer in Mexico

“…Finally, patients in this study agreed upon the importance of having additional information in electronic or print format, detailing specific topics such as possible adverse effects of treatment, tips on how to communicate with their spouses and children, checklists with questions to ask their physicians in further consultations and hospital logistics. Furthermore, it has been reported that among BC survivors in Mexico, printed materials are the preferred information source and that most women express high interest in obtaining information online, despite having a low educational background and limited Internet access (Soto‐Perez‐de‐Celis, Perez‐Montessoro, Rojo‐Castillo, & Chavarri‐Guerra, ; Villarreal‐Garza, Platas, et al, ). Similarly, women in other studies have mentioned that some form of take‐home information, such as handouts or pamphlets, would have helped them recall, comprehend and/or expand upon the verbal information received during their medical appointments (Hubbeling et al, ; Thewes et al, ).…”

Beliefs and Information Seeking in Patients With Cancer in Southwest China: Survey Study (Preprint)

“…Model [22] and the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking [23], previous studies [19,[24][25][26] have found differences between information seekers and nonseekers among cancer patients. These studies investigated demographic characteristics (eg, gender, age, income, education) first, and then explored the effects of social determinants (such as having a regular health care provider, salience, cancer type, cancer stage, and treatment type); however, among the different studies, the effects of cancer type and cancer stage were often found to be inconsistent.…”