MCancer Survey 2010

Internet Use, Information Needs and Quality of Life Among Cancer PatientsSurvey of University of Michigan Cancer Center Patients and Caregivers Thank YouCancer Center Operations GroupPatient and Family Support ServicesClinic Team LeadersQuality of Life GroupCanSORTQUICCCLisa Smith, Matthias KirchHealth 2.080% of adult Internet users (113 million Americans) have searched for health information online. 73% of health seekers say the Internet has improved the health information and services they receive35% of online adults use social media for health and medical purposes. Online patient communitiesBlogs, TestimonialsConnection to health care providersCitation: Pew American Life Survey 2006, http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2006/Online-Health-Search-2006.aspx?r=1With the increased use of internet resources there is also the question of credibility of information being consumed and also confidence of information obtains: Just 15% of health seekers say they always check the source and date of the health information they find online, while another 10% say they do so most of the time Most health seekers are pleased about what they find online, but some are frustrated or confusedspecificially: 25% say they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information they found online. 22% say they felt frustrated by a lack of information or an inability to find what they were looking for online.

3Todays PresentationInternet and social media useInformation needsQuality of lifeImplications for Survivorship Care

5Research QuestionsHow do UMCCC patients use health information technology (e.g. computers, internet, social media) when dealing with cancer or cancer treatments? What are the information and social support needs of UMCCC patients? What are the major challenges to improving quality of life for UMCCC patients? MCancer Survey 2010Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to learn more about how patients and their family and friends find and use information about cancer.Population: Adult cancer patients (age 18+) seeking care at the University of Michigan Cancer Center clinics and accompanying friends and family members during the time of survey collectionSetting: Clinic waiting areas throughout the Cancer CenterStudy time period: August 2010 until early September 2010TODAY: adult cancer patient data

Use of Internet, cell phones & social mediaPerceived usefulness of Internet, cell phones & social mediaInformation and social support needsQuality of lifePew Internet & American Life ProjectHINTS Survey 2007New questions created for survey

Pew Internet & American Life ProjectJanz & Piette: Baseline survey with LA SEERGriggs et al. (2006) Information Needs and Sources for Distribution

Janz & Piette: Baseline survey with LA SEERGriggs et al. (2006) Information Needs and Sources for Distribution

Fact GSF36 Vitality SubscaleDistress ThermometerZarit Burden Interview Scale

Conceptual FrameworkResultsRespondent characteristicsInternet useSocial mediaOnline activitiesOnline experiencesInformation needsSocial support needsQuality of life/DistressResultsCompleted surveys: 1660Response rate: 75%Total patients with cancer diagnosis: 1282Results: GenderResults: AgeResults: EducationResults: Race/EthnicityResults: Cancer DiagnosesResults: Years since DiagnosisResults: Use of Information Technology* Among internet usersResultsRespondent characteristicsInternet useSocial mediaOnline activitiesOnline experiencesInformation needsSocial support needsQuality of life/DistressResults: Internet Use*Significant Association 0.02319Results: Internet Use*Significant Association