Online Cancer News: Trends Regarding Article Types, Specific Cancers, and the Cancer Continuum

Abstract

The Internet is one of the fastest growing news sources for many worldwide (Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, 2011), and cancer news is one frequently consumed form of online health information (Google, Inc., 2007). This content analysis of online cancer news (n = 862) retrieved from the four most frequented news websites describes trends regarding specific cancers, stages in the cancer continuum, and types of news articles. In general, treatment information received the most attention in online cancer news. Breast cancer received the most attention of each specific cancer, followed by digestive and genitourinary cancers. Research reports and profiles of people (more than 60% of which were about celebrities) were the most common article types. Risk, uncertainty, and clinical trials were also present across several types of cancer news articles. Implications of content trends are discussed as relevant to consumers, producers, health campaign designers, and researchers alike.

Framing Cancer for Online News: Implications for Popular Perceptions of Cancer

“…RQ1 asked whether there were differences in the frequencies of these cancer news frames between 2008 and 2012; it was assessed through comparison of 2012 data with published 2008 cancer frame data (Hurley et al, ). A chi‐squared test revealed a significant difference between 2012 and 2008 frequencies ( = 165.8, p < .01).…”

“…Analysis of 2008 online cancer news has demonstrated that the medical frame is most often employed, followed by the lifestyle frame, and, finally, the environmental frame (Hurley, Riles, & Sangalang, ). Four years later we sought to replicate these findings.…”

Evaluation of About Being Active, an online lesson about physical activity shows that perception of being physically active is higher in eating competent low-income women

“…For example, a study of 1,620 participants in the Indiana Family Nutrition Program, which targets persons eligible for participation on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education (SNAP-Ed), revealed that 50% owned a computer, 78% of those owning a home computer accessed the internet from home, and 34% used the internet for nutrition information searches [17]. This suggests an increase in internet access of low-income Americans because an earlier report by the Pew Internet and American Life project reported that 65% of low-income adults (annual income < $30,000) had internet access [18]. Another study, utilizing face-to-face interviews with low-income adults in Pennsylvania indicated that 80% of study participants had access to the internet, and used the internet as their main resource for assessing nutrition and other health information [19].…”

Barriers to Cancer Screening Among Orthodox Jewish Women

“…Public service announcements (PSA) and health education programs that include celebrities, humorous expressions, and slogans have raised awareness of the importance of cancer screening [15, 16]. However, health education programs are most effective when they are culturally tailored and programs that are effective in some communities may not be effective others [17, 18].…”