Online information seeking behaviors of breast cancer patients before and after diagnosis: From website discovery to improving website information

Perrault, Evan K.; Hildenbrand, Grace M.; McCullock, Seth P.; Schmitz, Katie J; Lambert, Natalie

doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2020.100176

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This decrease in "ENT" queries could reflect the reduction in referrals to otolaryngologists and the widespread cancellations of elective surgeries [20]. Previous studies have shown that patients utilize more internet search terms after receiving a diagnosis as compared to before it has been given [21]. With fewer patients accessing otolaryngologists to receive diagnoses such as thyroid cancer or dysphonia, a decreased post-diagnosis search phenomenon could explain the reductions in certain search queries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Otolaryngology-related Google Search trends during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pier

Pasick

Benito

et al. 2020

American Journal of Otolaryngology

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To assess trends of Google Search queries for symptoms and complaints encountered commonly in otolaryngology practices during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when in-person care has been limited. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, data on Google Search queries in the United States for 30 otolaryngology-related terms were obtained from Google Trends. The means of relative search volume from the COVID-19 period (March 29, 2020 through May 16, 2020) were compared to similar periods from 2016 to 2019 using a t-test of two independent samples. Results: In total, 16.6% of search terms had significant increases in relative search volume during the COVID-19 period, with the largest percentage increase for "can't smell" (124.4%, p = .006), followed by "allergies" (30.3%, p = .03), "voice pain" (26.1%, p = .008), and "ears ringing" (19.0%, p < .001). Of all search terms, 26.7% had significant decreases in relative search volume, including the largest percentage decrease for "laryngitis" (59.8%, p < .001), followed by "thyroid nodule" (54.4%, p < .001), "thyroid cancer" (45.6%, p < .001), and "ENT" (34.9%, p < .001). Conclusion:This study demonstrates that Google search activity for many otolaryngology-related terms during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased or decreased significantly as compared to previous years. With reduced access to in-office otolaryngology care in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, these are important considerations for otolaryngology practices to meet the needs of patients who lack access to care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Otolaryngology-related Google Search trends during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pier

Pasick

Benito

et al. 2020

American Journal of Otolaryngology

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“…Patients have access to health-related information in abundancy, and it can be difficult to navigate the vast amount of information (Perrault et al, 2020;Chua et al, 2020a). The amount of information may even cause information overload which is defined as the feeling of not being able to process the large amount of information faced by a person (Swar et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information seeking for coping with cancer: a systematic review

Petersen

Jensen

Frandsen

2021

AJIM

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PurposeInformation seeking can be used to make sense of a situation or solve a problem. Information seeking can be considered a coping strategy when facing illness, crisis or other life-changing events. Cancer is a globally occurring, life-threatening disease, and this review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on the active information seeking behaviour of cancer patients specifically focussing on how active information seeking serves as a coping strategy.Design/methodology/approachThis study adheres to current guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and consequently, thorough literature searches were conducted in four databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus which resulted in 7,179 publications. Following a careful screening process, this systematic review identifies 14 studies on the use of information seeking to cope with cancer.FindingsThe included studies consist of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to analysing the use of information seeking to cope with cancer. The included studies have focussed primarily on demographic factors, the impact of affect, information needs, sources and coping strategies.Research limitations/implicationsA number of research gaps within library and information science are identified. Bringing research in this field into information science could allow for a greater understanding of information literacy, the use of existing information and the process of information searching when using information seeking to cope with serious illness.Originality/valueThis systematic review focusses on how information seeking serves as a coping strategy for cancer patients and provides an overview of the recent literature.

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“…20 Online searches for technical terms, on the other hand, often occur after a patient receives a diagnosis or counseling related to a condition. 21 Diminished encounters with oculofacial plastic surgeons due to stay-at-home directives may have decreased the post-diagnosis search phenomenon.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%