Health Information Sources for Different Types of Information Used by Chinese Parents With Cancer and Their Family Caregivers

Health Expectations, 2016, 1–10

10 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2018

See all articles by Xie Bo

Xie Bo

University of Texas at Austin

Zhaohui Su

University of Texas at Austin

Yihao Liu

University of Florida - Warrington College of Business Administration

Mo Wang

University of Florida - Department of Management

Ming Zhang

Peking University - Peking University Health Science Centre (PUHSC)

Date Written: August 12, 2016

Abstract

CONTEXT: Little is known about the information sources of Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers, yet this knowledge is critical for providing patient-centred care.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the information sources used by Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers.

DESIGN: The validated Health Information Wants Questionnaire (HIWQ) was translated and administered in March 2014.

SETTING: The oncology department of a general hospital in south-west China.

PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 198 individuals, including 79 patients with cancer (mean age=55.24, SD=13.80) and 119 family caregivers (mean age=46.83, SD=14.61).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ratings on the HIWQ items assessing information sources for different types of information.

RESULTS: The interaction between information source and group was significant (F3,576 =6.32, P<.01). Caregivers obtained more information than patients from the Internet. Caregivers and patients did not differ in the amount of information they obtained from doctors/nurses, interpersonal contacts or mass media. The interaction between information type and information source was significant (F18,3456 =6.38, P<.01). Participants obtained more information of all types from doctors/nurses than from the other three sources and obtained more information from interpersonal contacts than from mass media or the Internet.

CONCLUSIONS: The information sources of Chinese patients with cancer and their family caregivers were similar, with an important difference that caregivers obtained more online information than patients. These findings have important implications for patient care and education in China where the family typically plays a major role in the care and decision making.

Suggested Citation

Bo, Xie and Su, Zhaohui and Liu, Yihao and Wang, Mo and Zhang, Ming, Health Information Sources for Different Types of Information Used by Chinese Parents With Cancer and Their Family Caregivers (August 12, 2016). Health Expectations, 2016, 1–10, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3259600

Xie Bo

University of Texas at Austin ( email )

2317 Speedway
Austin, TX Texas 78712
United States

Zhaohui Su

University of Texas at Austin

2317 Speedway
Austin, TX Texas 78712
United States

Yihao Liu

University of Florida - Warrington College of Business Administration ( email )

Gainesville, FL 32611
United States

Mo Wang (Contact Author)

University of Florida - Department of Management ( email )

United States

Ming Zhang

Peking University - Peking University Health Science Centre (PUHSC)

38 Xueyuan Rd
Haidian District
Beijing, 100191
China

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