Information Seeking

A Study of the Information Seeking Behavior of Women with Breast Cancer in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan: 

A Study of the Information Seeking Behavior of Women with Breast Cance r in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Where Do Women Turn?:

Breast Cancer Statistics: 

Breast Cancer Statistics Breast cancer is the second most common cancer found in American women. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 (12%). In 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.

Breast Cancer Statistics: 

Breast Cancer Statistics “Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.” (from American Cancer Society) Information is empowering! Information is a beacon of hope!

Research Questions: 

Research Questions Where do breast cancer patients in the Oklahoma City metropolitan go for information upon first diagnosis of cancer? Are there themes in the information seeking behaviors of women diagnosed with breast cancer? Is there a timeline that affects how and what types of information women with breast cancer seek?

Methodology: 

Methodology Focus Group- Breast Imaging of Oklahoma, Edmond Email questionnaire – Mercy Hospital, Oklahoma City Far Right : MELISSA CRAFT, PHD., R.N., M.S., Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse

Findings: 

Findings Two distinct themes and needs for information among focus group participants: Information to make a treatment decision Information and/or support during treatment

1st Information Theme: 

1 st Information Theme Limited Time

2nd Information Theme: 

2 nd Information Theme Information and/or support during treatment and after surgery Some wanted no information until after treatment was completed. Others sought information through various ways: Search on internet Further information from medical professionals Support groups Print material Friends and/ or Family Longer time frame

Slide 9: 

"I didn’t talk to friends because I didn’t want to know their stories so much because I wanted my information to be as reliable and as authoritative as I could find." "I didn’t really research things at the beginning because having two different kinds of cancer at the same time and I know online you can find more than you want to know and it’s scary and people don’t know what they’re talking about." "I’m more of a people person. I like to hear peoples’ stories. But I also went online because I wanted to know the facts too. " " I don’t come to support groups meetings so much for the information as just to be with other people. " "I have found out more since I finished treatment and where to find things, a lot of because of the American Cancer Society, and getting involved with them. " "I talked to my doctors and got a lot of information from them."

Slide 10: 

“Before [I joined the support group] when I didn’t know anyone else with cancer, it was like if I was in a group and the word cancer got spoken I felt like I was whisked up and set on an island by myself. Like I was an oddity amidst all these other people.” "[I came to a face-to-face support group because] I wanted people. I wanted face to face contact with people, not online" "I have found out more since I finished treatment and where to find things, a lot of b/c of the American Cancer Society, and getting involved w/ them." "I found information through books I checked out at the library and the Internet." "Through my process I came to the conclusion that you really can’t turn to any person that’s been through it to compare to them because everybody’s experience is going to be different." "The Internet was by far the best source I had available since the treatment information was current. "

Findings continued: 

Findings continued Support groups serve as “information grounds” for the women of the study. Melissa Craft and other Health Professionals are looked at as the primary authority for cancer treatment.

Conclusions : 

Conclusions Women receive a lot of information at the beginning of treatment and can lead to information overload. Information then recedes over time, but women need support throughout treatment and not just at time of first diagnosis.

Solutions : 

Solutions Information Hotline Informational yet light-hearted cancer treatment book Collaboration between medical libraries and healthcare professionals Local database of support groups and treatment information Classes to train cancer patients to search for treatment solutions