Cancer-related information behavior among Black and Hispanic populations in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center catchment.

Abstract

This study aims to better understand health behaviors, particularly health information seeking, and how this impacts cancer care within underserved minority populations in a specific catchment area in Florida. We conducted an analysis of survey data from a 2019 community health survey conducted by the Moffit Cancer Center (MCC). We utilized the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) as a framework and performed structural equation modeling (SEM) and related statistical analyses. Our findings confirm that characteristics and demographics present a positive relationship to Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS). We also found that Utility had a negative significant relationship to OHIS. We concluded that the CMIS is a useful framework for studying cancer-related information seeking, and that when properly executed in the confines of a study, can lend itself to in-depth statistical analyses as found in SEM. The SEM revealed the CMIS to be promising with results in our analysis worthy of further investigation of cancer care and healthcare information access considering undeserved and minority populations. Models such as the CMIS can be useful for understanding information seeking behaviors and to design information and communication interventions to improve access and health outcomes.