Uncertainty Management and Information Seeking in Cancer Survivorship

Abstract

Uncertainty is a common experience among people coping with chronic illness. For many individuals, managing information is used as a means of coping with illness-related uncertainty. In-depth interviews with 60 cancer survivors and partners were conducted. Many of the participants in this study reported feeling uncertain about the challenges awaiting them in cancer survivorship and reported experiencing various information behaviors and challenges relating to their uncertainty management. These results have important implications for health care providers and imply that continued care and information provision, after cancer treatment is complete, would facilitate adaptive survivorship.