Predicting Cancer Information Seeking Behaviors of Smokers, Former Smokers and Nonsmokers Using the 2012 Health Information National Trends Survey

• Other Authors: Lee, Suekyung (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Communication
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-7462

Cancer can be one of the most serious diseases that can result in a costly reduction in the quality of life. Among a number of cancer risk factors, tobacco use has been identified as the leading preventable cause of deaths. Prior research has suggested that cancer information seeking may be a pre-step to adopt health protective behaviors that can prevent the development of cancer. However, little is known about factors that lead cancer information seeking behaviors of smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, it aimed to offer a model by merging constructs that have been shown to be effective to predict health preventive behaviors, especially cancer information seeking behaviors, with the more recent factors. Second, it examined cancer information seeking behaviors, proposed by the model, comparing smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. This study used the first cycle of the Health Information National Trends Survey 4 data set collected in 2012. Path analyses were employed to test the proposed relationships among risk perception, perceived ambiguity, cancer worry, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and cancer information seeking for sub-groups, segmented by smoking status. Results from the path analysis featuring a multiple group comparison indicated that the proposed model did not fit the data well. Thus, separate path analyses were subsequently conducted for smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. One of the main findings was the roles of risk perception and cancer worry in cancer information seeking. Regardless of smoking status, risk perception was positively related to cancer worry, and then, cancer worry was positively related to cancer information seeking. In addition, perceived ambiguity affected cancer information seeking via response efficacy and cancer worry. Greater perceived ambiguity was associated with less response efficacy for all three groups and with greater cancer worry for former smokers and nonsmokers. Then, subsequently, response efficacy was positively associated with cancer information seeking for former smokers and nonsmokers. Finally, although not hypothesized, self-efficacy was negatively associated with risk perception for smokers and former smokers. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of cancer information seeking behaviors of smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. Additionally, they suggest that health communication professionals should design messages to increase risk perception and cancer worry as well as to decrease perceived ambiguity, which may in turn help lead effective cancer prevention efforts. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Spring Semester, 2013. === March 29, 2013. === Cancer, Cancer Information Seeking, Smoking === Includes bibliographical references. === Gary Heald, Professor Directing Dissertation; Isaac W. Eberstein, University Representative; Stephen McDowell, Committee Member; Juliann Cortese, Committee Member; Jonathan Adams, Committee Member.