TY - JOUR
T1 - Cancer-related internet use and online social networking among patients in an early-phase clinical trials clinic at a comprehensive cancer center
AU - George, Goldy C.
AU - Buford, Adrianna
AU - Hess, Kenneth
AU - Piha-Paul, Sarina A.
AU - Zinner, Ralph
AU - Subbiah, Vivek
AU - Hinojosa, Christina
AU - Cleeland, Charles S.
AU - Meric-Bernstam, Funda
AU - Bernstam, Elmer V.
AU - Hong, David S.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Purpose We examined patterns, correlates, and the impact of cancer-related Internet use among patients with advanced cancer in a phase I clinical trials clinic for molecularly targeted oncologic agents. Methods An anonymous questionnaire on Internet use for cancer-related purposes that incorporated input from phase I clinical trial oncologists and patients was self-administered by patients age ≥ 18 years in a phase I clinic. Multivariable modeling was used. Data were analyzed for the overall sample and by generation, which was defined by year of birth. Results Of 291 patients (52% women, 82% non-Hispanic white, 50% age ≤ 60 years), 62% were cancer-related Internet users (CIUs). Cancer-related Internet use was associated with an income of ≥ $60,000 (odds ratio, 2.42; P = .004). CIUs used the Internet to learn about their cancer (85%), treatment adverse effects (65%), clinical trials (52%), new alternative treatments (42%), and symptom management (41%). CIUs most frequently used the hospital Web site (70%) to learn about clinical trials, followed by ClinicalTrials.gov (42%) and search engines (41%). The emotional impact of Internet-derived cancer information on CIUs varied-56% felt empowered, 34% anxious, 29% relieved, and 17% confused. Cancer-related Internet information made 51% of patients from the Millennial (born after 1990) and Generation X/Y (born 1965 to 1990) CIU populations anxious compared with < 29% of CIUs from older generations (born 1964 and before). Most CIUs desired more online information about new experimental drugs (91%) and US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for cancer (72%). Conclusion As most phase I patients use the Internet for cancer-related purposes, the Internet overall and hospital Web sites should provide more extensive, pertinent, and helpful information on clinical trials and cancer treatment to phase I patients.
AB - Purpose We examined patterns, correlates, and the impact of cancer-related Internet use among patients with advanced cancer in a phase I clinical trials clinic for molecularly targeted oncologic agents. Methods An anonymous questionnaire on Internet use for cancer-related purposes that incorporated input from phase I clinical trial oncologists and patients was self-administered by patients age ≥ 18 years in a phase I clinic. Multivariable modeling was used. Data were analyzed for the overall sample and by generation, which was defined by year of birth. Results Of 291 patients (52% women, 82% non-Hispanic white, 50% age ≤ 60 years), 62% were cancer-related Internet users (CIUs). Cancer-related Internet use was associated with an income of ≥ $60,000 (odds ratio, 2.42; P = .004). CIUs used the Internet to learn about their cancer (85%), treatment adverse effects (65%), clinical trials (52%), new alternative treatments (42%), and symptom management (41%). CIUs most frequently used the hospital Web site (70%) to learn about clinical trials, followed by ClinicalTrials.gov (42%) and search engines (41%). The emotional impact of Internet-derived cancer information on CIUs varied-56% felt empowered, 34% anxious, 29% relieved, and 17% confused. Cancer-related Internet information made 51% of patients from the Millennial (born after 1990) and Generation X/Y (born 1965 to 1990) CIU populations anxious compared with < 29% of CIUs from older generations (born 1964 and before). Most CIUs desired more online information about new experimental drugs (91%) and US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for cancer (72%). Conclusion As most phase I patients use the Internet for cancer-related purposes, the Internet overall and hospital Web sites should provide more extensive, pertinent, and helpful information on clinical trials and cancer treatment to phase I patients.
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U2 - 10.1200/CCI.17.00030
DO - 10.1200/CCI.17.00030
M3 - Article
C2 - 30652565
SN - 2473-4276
VL - 2018
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics
JF - JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics
IS - 2
ER -