Healthcare
Frequency of Internet Use and Cancer Information Seeking Among U.S. Adults: A Nationally Representative Analysis of the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-7)
By Odumegwu JN, Peprah E, Barth J and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
Rising cancer diagnoses and survivorship have increased demand for reliable cancer information. Online platforms offer resources that can strengthen health information and engagement; however, variable information quality, misinformation, and unequal digital access remain concerns. Little is known about how internet-use frequency, device type, and cancer history associate with cancer information seeking.
Objective
To examine how internet-use frequency, device type, and personal cancer history associate with cancer information seeking.
Methods
This study uses nationally representative data from 7245 respondents, weighted to represent approximately a sample of 261,682,768 US adults in the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey 7 (HINTS 7). Weighted adjusted logistic regression was used to examine associations between cancer information seeking, internet-use frequency, and personal cancer history.