Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Aaron B. Mendelsohn

Abstract

Cancer is a growing public health concern. The U.S. cancer prevalence nearly doubled from 8.1 million in 1996 to 15.5 million in 2016 and is expected to rise by an additional 68% from 2016 to 2040. Many cancer survivors use technology (e.g., smartphones) for health information seeking (HIS) for health-related self-efficacy (HRSE) to self-manage the health issues (e.g., physical impairment, chronic disease) they face. However, limited research exists regarding cancer survivors' use of HIS technology for HRSE. The self-efficacy theoretical framework, multiple logistic regression analyses, and the data from 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey were used in the current study to assess the impact of the use of technology for HIS on HRSE and HIS experiences, as well as the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical factors with the use of technology for HIS. Most (80.2%) survivors used HIS technology. The use of technology for HIS did not significantly predict HRSE (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.54-1.54) nor positive HIS experiences (OR =1.15, 95% CI = 0.75-1.79), p > .05. Age, education, and income independently predicted technology-based HIS, p < .05, with persons under the age of 65 years, those with greater than high school education, and those earning over $20,000 having greatest odds of using technology for HIS. The HIS-technology’s potential to improve HRSE is not fully understood. More research is needed to inform its use in the survivorship programs to reduce disparities and barriers in survivors’ health information access for improved cancer outcomes. Current and future studies on the research gaps can lead to positive social change by providing evidence for effective survivorship interventions for HRSE to help survivors self-manage their health-related quality of life.

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