Information-seeking behavior of minority breast cancer patients: an exploratory study

Few population-based studies have been conducted with minority breast cancer patients in the United States to understand their information-seeking behaviors. We examined the resources minority breast cancer patients used and the extent to which the Internet was being utilized by Hispanic and African American breast cancer patients. A random sample of 388 Hispanic and African American breast cancer female patients was obtained from the Sacramento Cancer Surveillance Program in California. Various survey and data collection tools were researched and adapted to create the 44-item questionnaire. Subjects were asked to participate in a telephone interview. Of the 388 cases, 74% (n = 287) consented to participate in our study. Sixty-three percent (n = 181) received cancer-related information at the time of their diagnosis; 58% reported that a health care professional provided them with this information. Only 17% of study respondents had ever used the Internet. The top 3 sources for cancer information were books, brochures, and pamphlets (98%); doctor or other health professionals (97%); and spouse or partner, family members, friends, or all of these (62%). None of the respondents indicated accessing the National Cancer Institute's cancer.gov website. Minority breast cancer patients were using the Internet for cancer-related information at a very low rate.