Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review
Objective: Disparities in cancer care contribute to higher rates of cancer mortality. Online health information would be a resource for cancer patients to obtain knowledge and make health decisions. However, factors that hinder or facilitate online searching behaviours among patients remain unexplor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231210663 |
| _version_ | 1797389733436850176 |
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| author | Giulia Ferraris Dario Monzani Veronica Coppini Lorenzo Conti Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli Roberto Grasso Gabriella Pravettoni |
| author_facet | Giulia Ferraris Dario Monzani Veronica Coppini Lorenzo Conti Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli Roberto Grasso Gabriella Pravettoni |
| author_sort | Giulia Ferraris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Disparities in cancer care contribute to higher rates of cancer mortality. Online health information would be a resource for cancer patients to obtain knowledge and make health decisions. However, factors that hinder or facilitate online searching behaviours among patients remain unexplored. The current systematic review aims to identify and synthesise evidence of cancer patients’ barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus) were systematically searched, and a total of 123 full-text studies were reviewed of which 24 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Thematic analysis was performed to identify barriers and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Seven key themes were identified: (1) socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, income, ethnicity and language), (2) psychosocial aspects (psychological wellbeing, need for a face to face contact, motivation, support), (3) accessibility (Internet access, residence), (4) quality and quantity of information (amount, reliability), (5) cancer stage and symptoms (time since diagnosis, experiencing symptoms), (6) aspects related to healthcare professionals (relationship with the patients and opinions on online health information) and (7) digital literacy (computer skills and literacy). Conclusions: Findings underscore the significance of recognising the multifaceted nature of barriers and facilitators affecting cancer patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours. A strong link between these factors and cancer patients’ ability to make informed decisions and cope effectively with their diagnosis emerged. Consequently, addressing these barriers and leveraging the identified facilitators could lead to improvements in patient-centred care, ultimately contributing to better healthcare services and informed decision-making for cancer patients. Future research should prioritise exploring strategies for enhancing cancer care accessibility across all stakeholders involved. Registration CRD42023408091 |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:00:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c43a28b880e41bb840f8c4cda9541a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:00:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c43a28b880e41bb840f8c4cda9541a02023-12-15T21:09:29ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762023-12-01910.1177/20552076231210663Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic reviewGiulia Ferraris0Dario Monzani1Veronica Coppini2Lorenzo Conti3Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli4Roberto Grasso5Gabriella Pravettoni6 Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement (SPPEFF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy Faculty of Psychology, Psychology Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyObjective: Disparities in cancer care contribute to higher rates of cancer mortality. Online health information would be a resource for cancer patients to obtain knowledge and make health decisions. However, factors that hinder or facilitate online searching behaviours among patients remain unexplored. The current systematic review aims to identify and synthesise evidence of cancer patients’ barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus) were systematically searched, and a total of 123 full-text studies were reviewed of which 24 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Thematic analysis was performed to identify barriers and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Seven key themes were identified: (1) socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, income, ethnicity and language), (2) psychosocial aspects (psychological wellbeing, need for a face to face contact, motivation, support), (3) accessibility (Internet access, residence), (4) quality and quantity of information (amount, reliability), (5) cancer stage and symptoms (time since diagnosis, experiencing symptoms), (6) aspects related to healthcare professionals (relationship with the patients and opinions on online health information) and (7) digital literacy (computer skills and literacy). Conclusions: Findings underscore the significance of recognising the multifaceted nature of barriers and facilitators affecting cancer patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours. A strong link between these factors and cancer patients’ ability to make informed decisions and cope effectively with their diagnosis emerged. Consequently, addressing these barriers and leveraging the identified facilitators could lead to improvements in patient-centred care, ultimately contributing to better healthcare services and informed decision-making for cancer patients. Future research should prioritise exploring strategies for enhancing cancer care accessibility across all stakeholders involved. Registration CRD42023408091https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231210663 |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Ferraris Dario Monzani Veronica Coppini Lorenzo Conti Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli Roberto Grasso Gabriella Pravettoni Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review Digital Health |
| title | Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review |
| title_full | Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review |
| title_short | Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review |
| title_sort | barriers to and facilitators of online health information seeking behaviours among cancer patients a systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231210663 |
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