Breast cancer prevention information seeking behavior and interest on cell phone and text use: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia

Development of a Culturally Appropriate Text Messaging Platform for Improving Breast Cancer Screening Uptake Among Ghanaian Women in Metropolitan Areas

Objective: Early detection through screening could improve breast cancer (BC) outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We explored women's preferences for BC-related mobile health text messaging, described the development of a mobile-health text messaging platform, and examined the enablers and barriers to BC screening. Methods: A concurrent mixed-method study of women aged 40-59 years was conducted. Four essential actions were carried out: (i) a baseline survey of 130 women, (ii) five focus group discussions (FGDs), (iii) a stakeholder meeting with BC research and clinical treatment specialists, and (iv) text message pretesting. The survey and FGD findings were used to create a culturally appropriate SMS platform for BC screening. Results: Thirty-five text messages were developed and evaluated with the following communication goals in mind: 15 addressed BC awareness, six emphasized the importance of early detection, five alleviated anxieties as a barrier to BC screening, seven encouraged women to prioritize their health, and three indicated screening locations and costs. The majority (92.6%) of survey respondents who had heard of mammography (54/130) said screening was necessary. Fear of the screening procedure, receiving a positive diagnosis, and other testing-related worries (40.7%) were identified as potential barriers to BC screening, along with low income (18.5%), a lack of BC-related indicators (9.3%), insufficient breast awareness education (9.3%), and time restrictions (7.4%). The presence of BC-related symptoms (27.8%), breast awareness education (24.1%), and doctor's advice (16.7%) were all potential facilitators of BC screening uptake. The majority of FGD participants favored brief texts, with 42.3% preferring one text message per day. Conclusion: Several factors limit women from accessing BC screening services; nevertheless, specific barriers such as a lack of BC education, time constraints, and disease fears can be successfully targeted through SMS messaging interventions to encourage women to use BC screening programs.

Information and information resources in COVID-19: Awareness, control, and prevention

This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the role of information and information resources in the awareness, control, and prevention of COVID-19. This study was a descriptive-analytical survey in which 450 participants were selected for the study. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data through SPSS. The findings show that a wide range of mass media has become well known as information resources for COVID-19. Other findings indicate a significant statistical difference in the rate of using information resources during COVID-19 based on age and gender; however, this difference is not significant regarding the reliability of information resources with regard to age and gender. Health information has an undisputable role in the prevention and control of pandemic diseases such as COVID-19. Providing accurate, reliable, and evidence-based information in a timely manner for the use of resources and information channels related to COVID-19 can be a fast and low-cost strategic approach in confronting this disease.

Health information seeking behaviour: a concept analysis

BACKGROUND

In 2007, Lambert and Loiselle conducted an extensive concept analysis of the term health information seeking behaviour (HISB) to examine the concept's level of maturity and critically analyse its characteristics. Since their groundbreaking work, HISB has evolved with the proliferation of ICTs. The Internet is now a common and often preferred medium for the pursuit of health information.

OBJECTIVES

The previous analysis spanned 42 years of literature; this article describes an analysis of the last 10 years of literature on HISB and how online seeking has caused the concept to evolve in the literature.

METHODS

This study used the concept analysis methodology employed by Lambert and Loiselle in the original analysis. It also included a systematic search conducted in five databases to identify studies from 2007 to 2017, using similar inclusion criteria from the original study.

RESULTS

Of the more than 500 articles retrieved, 85 journal articles met the inclusion criteria. Consistent with the original work, articles that included outcomes were identified as either behavioural or cognitive.

CONCLUSION

Most of the attention of the works studied focused on individuals and their information source preferences. This HISB analysis can be incorporated with studies to understand how various communities seek information in online versus non-online contexts.

A scoping review of consumer needs for cancer information

OBJECTIVE

This study was a scoping review of research on cancer-related health information seeking and needs of patients, survivor, non-patients, and caregivers.

METHODS

This study used the COSI model to search for articles published from 2007 to 2017.

RESULTS

In total, 117 articles with titles and abstracts including the following terms were selected: cancer, health, information, seeking. Non-patients obtained information from the Internet, doctors, and media, whereas patients obtained information from doctors, the Internet, and media. Information needs were the highest for treatment, prognosis, and psychosocial support. Patients had the highest need for information on prognosis and treatment, whereas non-patients had the highest need for general cancer information, prevention, and cancer examination. Caregivers sought information about treatment, psychosocial support, and prevention.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed an increase in the number of research articles identifying cancer patients' information needs. Cancer patients rely on health professionals for information; thus, relevant materials are needed. Furthermore, not only medical but also psychosocial support information is needed.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

There is a need for cancer information from health professionals, and thus for patient-centered training materials. Furthermore, a survey system to evaluate consumers' cancer information needs should be developed.

Factors associated with insufficient awareness of breast cancer among women in Northern and Eastern China: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the awareness and knowledge level of breast cancer among Chinese participants.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTINGS

This study was based on the database of the minister-affiliated hospital key project of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China that included 21 Chinese hospitals between April 2012 and April 2013.

PARTICIPANTS

Matched study was designed among 2978 participants with Han ethnicity aged between 25 and 70.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Student's t-test, Pearson's χ² test, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to know the level of breast cancer knowledge and find the breast cancer awareness-associated factors.

RESULTS

80.0% (2383/2978) of the participants had poor awareness level of breast cancer. In-depth knowledge of breast cancer such as early symptoms and risk factors was poorly found among them. Television broadcast and relatives or friends with breast cancers were the main sources of information about breast cancer. Of all participants, 72.8% (2167/2978) had heard about breast cancer as a frequent cancer affecting women, and 63.3% (1884/2978) knew that family history of breast cancer was a risk factor for breast cancer. Over half of them were aware that a breast lump could be a symptom of breast cancer. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables that predicted awareness of breast cancer: young age (OR=0.843, 95% CI 0.740 to 0.961), occupation (agricultural worker) (OR=12.831, 95% CI 6.998 to 23.523), high household social status (OR=0.644, 95% CI 0.531 to 0.780), breast hyperplasia history (OR=1.684, 95% CI 1.273 to 2.228), high behavioural prevention score (OR=4.407, 95% CI 3.433 to 5.657).

CONCLUSION

Most women were aware of breast cancer as a disease, but their in-depth knowledge of it was poor. More publicity and education programmes to increase breast cancer awareness are necessary and urgent, especially for the ageing women and agricultural workers.