Cancer screening information-seeking before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Cancer Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted routine healthcare, including cancer screening services.
• The impact of the pandemic on public information-seeking behaviors regarding cancer screening remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in cancer screening information-seeking behaviors before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify shifts in the types of cancer screening inquiries and methods of access.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cancer screening inquiries from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service.
• Comparison of data from the year before (March 2019-March 2020) and the year after (March 2020-March 2021) pandemic onset.
• Examination of inquiry points of access, subject matter, and referrals.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in general public cancer screening inquiries was observed post-pandemic onset (56.1%) compared to pre-pandemic (43.9%).
• Breast cancer screening inquiries rose, while inquiries for cervical, colorectal, and other cancers decreased.
• Telephone inquiries increased, whereas email and chat inquiries declined; interest in finding healthcare services and managing costs rose.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant shifts in public cancer screening information-seeking behaviors.
• There was a notable increase in interest in breast cancer screening information, alongside a decrease in interest for other cancer types.
• Further research is needed to understand how public health crises influence information seeking and cancer screening intentions.