Patterns and predictors of online cancer information seeking among urological cancer survivors.

Abstract

328 Background: Online health information seeking is linked to improved patient engagement, knowledge, and shared decision-making. We evaluated sociodemographic and clinical predictors of internet use for cancer information among survivors of urological malignancies. Methods: Data were obtained from the nationally representative US Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS; years 2003-2024). Survivors of urological malignancies were identified by self-reported cancer history. The primary outcome was internet use for cancer information. Participants who reported searching for health information online were assumed to have sought cancer-related information. Survey-weighted logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations with age, education, income, marital status, rurality, insurance, self-rated health, and cancer type. Analyses were stratified by cancer type, with sensitivity analyses restricted to respondents diagnosed within ≤5 years. Results: A total of 1,078 unweighted survivors of urological malignancies, representing an estimated 38.2 million adults in the US population, were included (mean age, 71 years; 73.5% male). In multivariable analyses, participants aged ≥65 years were less likely to use the internet for cancer information than those aged <65 years (OR=0.21; 95% CIs, 0.12–0.36). Compared with bladder cancer survivors, those with prostate-only (OR=0.34; 95% CIs, 0.15–0.78) or other urological malignancies (OR=0.16; 95% CIs, 0.04–0.57) were less likely to report such use. Survivors who were married (OR=1.84; 95% CIs, 1.07–3.15), had a college education (OR=2.21; 95% CIs, 1.39–3.51), had household income ≥ $75,000 (OR=2.51; 95% CIs, 1.10-5.72), and had poor self-reported health (OR=4.14; 95% CIs, 1.14-15.11) were more likely to use the internet for cancer information. Stratified analyses yielded similar results across the three cancer types, except for race and self-rated health. Sensitivity analyses produced consistent findings. Conclusions: Nearly half of urological cancer survivors reported seeking cancer information online. Older age and lower socioeconomic status were associated with reduced engagement, demonstrating the need for targeted efforts to improve equitable digital access and support informed survivorship care. Internet use by survivor characteristics. Variable Yes (n = 503) No (n = 575) p-value Age, mean (SD) 68.6 (10.9) 73.0 (10.5) <0.001 Male sex, n 334 (66.4%) 459 (79.8%) <0.001 Married, n 347 (69.0%) 315 (54.8%) <0.001 College graduate, n 277 (55.1%) 182 (31.7%) <0.001 Household income ≥$50,000, n 321 (63.8%) 229 (39.8%) <0.001 Metro residence, n 420 (83.5%) 459 (79.8%) 0.12 Good/Very good self-rated health, n 336 (66.8%) 372 (64.7%) 0.43 Bladder cancer, n 44 (8.7%) 75 (13.0%) 0.089 Prostate cancer, n 360 (71.6%) 393 (68.3%) Renal cancer, n 57 (11.3%) 67 (11.7%)