The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Factors Influencing Medical Information Seeking Among African American Cancer Patients
Abstract
Qualitative research methods were used to explore factors that may affect medical information seeking, treatment engagement, and emotional adjustment among African American cancer patients. Focus group findings suggest that an array of cultural and socioeconomic factors plays important roles in the behavior of African American cancer patients. Participants described a number of important barriers and facilitators of medical information seeking and treatment participation. Factors linked to the health care-related behaviors and adjustment of African American cancer patients included limited knowledge and misinformation about cancer, mistrust of the medical community, concerns about privacy, lack of insurance, religious beliefs, and emotional issues such as fear and stigma associated with seeking emotional support. Recommendations are made that may assist mental and physical health providers in improving patient information and mental and physical health outcomes of African American cancer patients.
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“religious fatalism is associated with worse compliance with screening and treatment recommendations,17, 18”
From Religion, spirituality, and physical health in cancer patients: A meta‐analysis (2015) · cites this paper as [17]
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Items 201–233 of 233
Information Needs, Motivations, and Use
(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016005 · Cited by 1
Exploring University Students' Online Information Seeking about Prescription Medications.
Alkhalaf, A. A. (2013) · ProQuest LLC eBooks · Cited by 1
Family, Faith/Religion, and African Americans' Decisions to Seek Lung Cancer Treatment
Williams, C. D. (2014) · ScholarWorks (Walden University) · Cited by 1
Mason, N. F. (2019) · doi:10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.4841 · Cited by 1
“Situational factors refer to the characteristics of an individuals’ environment, source of information, and information seeking context (Allen, 1996; Czaja, Manfredi, & Price, 2003; Dunne, 2002; Loiselle, 2001; Matthews et al., 2002).”
Background(2022) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80382-047-720221013 · Cited by 1
Complementary and Alternative Therapy Use During Treatment of Breast Cancer
Lambe, C. E. (2019) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/sxtp-yq49
Swarts, K. L., & Guthrie, J. D. (2014) · Journal of diagnostic medical sonography · doi:10.1177/8756479314563333
“A qualitative study conducted in 2002 looked into what factors may be limiting African Americans with cancer to seek medical help.(22) The study found that there were many cultural factors along with SES.”
BackgroundHEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL, RISK PERCEPTION, AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR IN
Cherepakho, V. (2008)
Guzman, V., & Guzmán, C. E. V. (2010)
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(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016002
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(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016010
Metatheories, Theories, and Paradigms
(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016008
The History and Focus of Information Behavior Research
(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016003
Research Design, Methodology, and Methods
(2016) · Studies in information · doi:10.1108/s2055-53772016009
Reviewing, Critiquing, Concluding
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An Analysis of Organ Donation Presentations on Weibo
Li, S. (2018) · Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida)
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Health MisinformationPreprint
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Perilaku Informasi Tradisi “Mangaji Ka Surau” Masyarakat Minangkabau
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TRANSFORMING BREAST CANCER CARE: THE IMPACT OF TELEPHARMACY AND TECHNOLOGY
ManojKumar, B. M., Vadgama, M. N. S., Prajapati, A. P., et al. (2023) · EPRA International Journal of Research & Development (IJRD) · doi:10.36713/epra15273
Racial equity in and through medical interaction scholarship: A scoping review
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Ugas, M. A., Giannopoulos, E., Tan, J., et al. (2026) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-026-10344-3
“Black cancer patients face added institutional barriers such as medical mistrust and stigma [44].”
Tefera, G. M., Yalim, A. C., Varol, S., et al. (2026) · The International Journal of Health Planning and Management · doi:10.1002/hpm.70097
Metadata
- Authors
- Matthews, A. K., Sellergren, S. A., Manfredi, C., & Williams, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- Northwestern University (US)
- ORCID
- Matthews, Alicia K.
- Venue
- Journal of Health Communication
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 205-219
- ISSN
- 1081-0730 (ISSN-L)
- 1087-0415
- OpenAlex
- W2062414365
- Cited by
- 233
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 13.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health Communication (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- health information seeking, cancer, cultural factors, socioeconomic factors, treatment engagement, emotional adjustment, health misinformation, privacy concerns, lack of insurance, religious beliefs, emotional support, barriers and facilitators
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Black or African American, Female, Humans, Information Services, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Patient Education as Topic, Physician-Patient Relations, United States, Patient Satisfaction, Focus Groups
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