Rumors About Cancer: Content, Sources, Coping, Transmission, and Belief

Abstract

Using a sense-making and threat management framework in rumor psychology, the authors used an exploratory web survey (n = 169) to query members of online cancer discussion groups about informal cancer statements heard from nonmedical sources (i.e., cancer rumors). Respondents perceived that rumors helped them cope. Dread rumors exceeded wish rumors; secondary control (control through emotional coping) rumors outnumbered primary control (direct action) rumors. Rumor content focused on cancer lethality, causes, and suffering. Rumors came primarily from family or friends in face-to-face conversations. Respondents discussed rumors with medical personnel primarily for fact-finding purposes, but with nonmedical people for altruistic, emotional coping, or relationship enhancement motives. Transmitters (vs. nontransmitters) considered rumors to be more important, were more anxious, and felt rumors helped them cope better, but did not believe them more strongly or feel that they were less knowledgeable about cancer. Most respondents believed the rumors; confidence was based on trust in family or friends (disregarding source nonexpertise) and concordance with beliefs, attitudes, and experience. Results point toward the fruitfulness of using rumor theory to guide research on cancer rumors and suggest that rumors help people achieve a sense of emotional control for dreaded cancer outcomes, inform the social construction of cancer, and highlight the continuing importance of nonelectronic word of mouth.

Word-of-mouth in the health care sector: a literature analysis of the current state of research and future perspectives

“…Instead the focus is on the spread of information about specific health conditions. The results of the analyzed studies clearly reveal that WOM is used to distribute health-related information among large groups of individuals (ColonRamosan et al 2009;Geana et al 2011;DiFonzo et al 2012;Friedman et al 2012). Macias et al (2005) emphasized the important role of the internet for the distribution of WOM related health care information, because it offers both anonymity and the possibility to overcome geographical barriers.…”

“…In this way also highly sensitive health related information might be exchanged. DiFonzo et al (2012) additionally highlight the essential role of WOM in providing emotional support. Still, the actual relevance of WOM for individuals is influenced by their age, education, ethnic background and health status.…”

The Quality of Online Health-Related Information – an Emergent Consumer Health Issue

“…Probably the most commonly agreed upon source of concern is the fact that a large amount of health-related information that is shared over the Internet is of poor quality, exposing users to significant health risks [7]. During the last decade, there has been published a large number of studies scrutinizing the quality of online information related to most if not any known disease or medical condition.…”

“…The quality of the health-related information that is available in the cyberspace affects the users' knowledge, their attitude, and their risk or health behaviour in complex ways [5,6]. The patients, some of whom suffer from serious diseases or are in critical life-or-death situations, can make decisions with irreversible consequences, based on recommendations obtained from these novel sources of information [7]. There are studies which show that the health-related information available on the Internet influences a substantial number of users in their decisions regarding diagnostic and treatment procedures [8][9][10][11].…”

Should Critical Care Professionals Take Hoaxes/Rumours Seriously?

“…While social psychology research contends that rumors can negatively impact on the public by generating distress, intense fear, anxiety, possibly resulting in herd behaviour and violence [1], there is evidence that disease-related rumours may alter health-related behaviors and interfere with medical decision-making [2]. Medical misinformation is most frequently associated with collective emergency situations (e.g., Ebola infected patients refused to be hospitalized because of rumours that international health care workers intentionally brought the virus with them [3]; people from around Kenema, Sierra Leone attacked the hospital after hearing rumours of conspiracy [4]; during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, rumours that ingestion of iodized salt could prevent radiation damage lead to a shortage of the product in supermarkets and triggered panic and public unrest [1]) and miracle products or cures that can be commercially exploited [5].…”