Interaction of Comparative Cancer Risk and Cancer Efficacy Perceptions on Cancer-Related Information Seeking and Scanning Behaviors

Abstract

This study examined the interaction between perceived cancer risk and self-efficacy related to cancer screening on cancer-related information seeking and scanning behaviors (SSB) among the general population. Individuals completed a cross-sectional survey, were classified into 1 of 4 clusters based on their relative risk and self-efficacy belief scores (i.e., high relative risk and high self-efficacy, high relative risk and low self-efficacy, low relative risk and high self-efficacy, and low relative risk and low self-efficacy), and asked about their information SSB related to the colonoscopy, prostate-specific antigen test, or mammogram. A national probability sample of 2,489 adults aged 40 to 70 took part in this study. Individuals who perceived themselves to be at high relative risk for cancer and had high self-efficacy beliefs in performing cancer-screening behaviors generally reported the highest amounts of SSB for cancer-screening information, compared to the others.