Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Nancy Rea

Abstract

Cancer is a significant cause of illness and mortality in the United States. A family history of cancer is a valuable factor for assessing disease risk and increasing cancer information-seeking behaviors for prevention. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative study addressed the predictors of cancer information seeking behavior among adults with a family history of cancer. In this study, data from 8,473 participants in the 2017–2019 Health Information Trends Analysis Survey were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. This analysis addressed whether there was a statistically significant difference in sociodemographic factors, measures of health status, and health care engagement indicators between individuals with a family history of cancer who seek or do not seek cancer information when controlling for age, gender, and race. The results revealed a statistically significant (p < .05) association between education level, income, health insurance status, general health status, cancer diagnosis, cancer worry, having a regular health care professional, getting frequent care, and cancer information seeking. Age, gender, and race/ethnicity were not confounders on the association. The results may be used to increase the understanding of factors responsible for seeking cancer prevention information among populations with a family cancer history to reduce the health burden and mortality from cancer.

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