Self-efficacy to Get Cancer-Related Information or Advice

Abstract

Self-efficacy, or confidence, for being able to get cancer information may affect a person's understanding of cancer risk and subsequent cancer-related decisions such as screening, treatment, and genetic testing. In this study, we explored key correlates associated with self-efficacy for getting cancer information. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2018 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 2). There were 3504 responses in the full dataset; 2513 remained after eliminating respondents with incomplete data for all variables of interest. Self-efficacy for getting cancer information was assessed with the item, "Overall, how confident are you that you could get advice or information about cancer if you needed it?" First, we explored correlates associated with self-efficacy in getting cancer information including sociodemographic factors, patient-provider communication, and health-related self-efficacy in the full sample. Secondarily, we examined associations between self-efficacy to get cancer information and cancer information-seeking burden (e.g., difficulty understanding cancer information) in the subset of participants who reported ever looking for cancer-specific information. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were conducted. Asian race/ethnicity, higher perceived quality of patient-provider communication, and higher health-related self-efficacy were associated with higher odds of confidence about getting cancer information. In the subset of people who ever sought cancer-specific information, higher patient-provider communication scores, higher health-related self-efficacy, greater difficulty understanding information, greater concern about the quality of information, and greater frustration during the search were associated with higher self-efficacy for getting cancer information. Future research should evaluate strategies to improve cancer information seeking skills.

Keywords: Communication; Decision-making; Health communication; Information-seeking behavior; Neoplasms.