Nonmedical information seeking amid conflicting health information: negative and positive effects on prostate cancer screening |
| |
| Authors: | Laura Gibson Andy S L Tan Derek Freres Nehama Lewis Lourdes Martinez Robert C Hornik |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania;2. Department of Communication, University of Haifa;3. Department of Communication, Michigan State University |
| |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the impact of seeking information about the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test on men’s PSA test use during a period of conflicting recommendations. Analyses used longitudinal survey data collected in 2005 and 2006 from a nationally representative sample of U.S. males aged 40–70 years (n = 777). Cross-sectionally, nonmedical information seeking was significantly associated with increased odds of having a PSA test in the past year (Time 1 odds ratio OR] = 9.74, p < .01, 95% confidence interval CI] = 4.37, 21.70; Time 2 OR = 5.78, p < .01, 95% CI = 3.17, 10.55). However, lagged analyses showed that among men who had a PSA at Time 1, active seeking is associated with reduced odds of later having a PSA test (OR = 0.33, p < .05, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.85). Participants who had not had a PSA test in the past year very rarely sought information about PSA tests. Information acquisition in an environment of conflicting recommendations may influence adoption of cancer screening behaviors. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
