It is critical to understand patients’ information
use from the patient perspective, especially
when patients are from different cultures and
levels of health literacy. A cross-sectional survey
supplemented with interviews of breast cancer
survivors including both Latina and non-
Latina women was undertaken. Subjects were
classified as active information seekers, passive
information receivers, and/or users of information.
Subjects were further classified by stage of
information use, progressing from unawareness
or awareness of available information to use
or non-use of information to make health
decisions. Information sources used and use
patterns were examined. Most were active
information seekers; many were also passive
receivers. Healthcare providers remain the
primary information source. Interpersonal communication
was far more often cited than either
the internet or traditional print and broadcast
media. Important cross-cultural differences
were found. This study provides insight into
how patients use actively sought and passively
received information. Despite dramatic
growth of the internet and other new media,
healthcare providers currently remain keys to
health information. Findings may help develop
more successful communication strategies when
viewed in light of the National Cancer Institute’s
‘Making Health Communication Programs
Work’ and the four stages it proposes. It
is hoped that future work will focus on
evidence-based methods to improve health communication,
especially for vulnerable populations.
A major lesson learned is the importance
of understanding where patients decided to seek
information outside the traditional provideroriented
approach taken in many health education
programmes
