Related Experiment Videos
Avoidant adjustment predicts lower information seeking in people with lung cancer
Hunter Mulcare1, Yoshihisa Kashima, Jeannette Milgrom
1Department of Psychology, School of Behavioural Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. huntermulcare@gmail.com
Background:
Few studies have examined the factors that predict information seeking by cancer patients. This study investigated the influence of different styles of adjustment to cancer, information goals and information needs on the information seeking by lung cancer patients.
Method:
Lung cancer patients were recruited at their first appointment with their radiation oncologist and completed two questionnaires, one month apart, containing the Patient Information Needs Questionnaire, Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, the number of information sources accessed and a purpose-built measure of cancer-related personal goals.
Results:
Fifty-nine participants completed two questionnaires. The average number of information sources accessed by participants increased over the 1-month period, from 7.2 to 9.1 sources (p = 0.026). Information goals at time 1 predicted information seeking at time 2 (p = 0.014). Information needs at time 1 did not predict information seeking at time 2 (Disease Orientated information need p = 0.084, Action Orientated information need p = 0.229). Cognitive Avoidance at time 1 was negatively associated with the number of information sources accessed at time 2 (p = 0.046). This relationship became a non-significant trend (p = 0.066) when baseline information seeking was controlled for. No other adjustment style (at time 1) exhibited a significant relationship with information seeking at time 2.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that information seeking may vary as a function of adjustment to cancer. Consequently, information provision to patients could be more appropriately tailored by attending to how a patient is adjusting to their diagnosis of cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Cancer Survival Analysis
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood