Health information-seeking behaviors among high-perceived cancer risk individuals who experienced hearing loss: An exploratory study

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies identify which health information (HI) people trust and use, and some studies have focused on health information-seeking behaviors (HISB) of individuals with varying perceived cancer risk (PCR). However, most HISB and PCR studies focus on mainstream populations with typical hearing ability. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between HISB and high PCR (HPCR) among English speakers who experienced hearing loss. Methods: Data from the English version of the 2013 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 4 Cycle 3 were analyzed. Frequencies were calculated from HINTS 4 Cycle 3 survey questions. Correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between HPCR status and the various trusted HI sources. A significant correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r) was p set at .05. Results: Of the 229 participants self-identifying as experiencing hearing loss, 46 identified as having HPCR. Moreover, over 95% of HCPR participants endorsed speaking English well. In their latest HI search, participants reported they first accessed HI from the internet (28.3%) yet also indicated their most trusted HI source were doctors (97.8%). Pearson’s r indicated no significant relationship between PCR status of participants and degree of trust in HI sources (p < .05). Conclusions: Health professionals should deliver clear and relevant health messages and materials that are understood by individuals who experience hearing loss, including those with HPCR. For individuals who experience hearing loss, health education and communication specialists need to consider alternate communication methods such as writing, speech recognition apps, or captions to support health communication. Keywords: health information seeking-behaviors, hearing loss, perceived cancer risk