The Central Role of Relevant Health Information for Promoting Cancer Prevention and Control

Main Article Content

Gary L. Kreps

Abstract

Despite major scientific gains in important new knowledge about risks, biological processes, prevention practices, and advanced treatments for many forms of cancer, epidemiological evidence shows that cancer continues to evolve as an increasingly dangerous health issue responsible for unacceptably high levels of death and disability world-wide. Sadly, many major advances in cancer knowledge have not been adequately translated into needed personal and institutional actions that could significantly reduce cancer morbidity and mortality. Disseminating relevant and actionable cancer-related health information to those who are confronting cancer is essential for promoting needed cancer prevention and control. Cancer information dissemination efforts should clearly and persuasively communicate complex cancer information to diverse and often vulnerable audiences who desperately need relevant information about key cancer issues, including cancer prevention, early detection, informed diagnosis, cancer treatment, and successful cancer survivorship. Strategic health communication can build needed awareness about cancer risks and responses, promote trust, cooperation, and personal engagement, as well as support informed cancer decision-making. Communicating meaningfully with those who are at greatest risk from cancer, such as members of the most vulnerable segments of society who suffer from high levels of cancer morbidity and mortality, is especially important for promoting cancer prevention and control. However, effective communication with members of these high-risk populations is often fraught with communication barriers. Since many members of at-risk groups are among the poorest, lowest educated, and most disenfranchised members of society, they may encounter serious challenges to accessing and making sense of relevant health information. They often experience health literacy deficits that make it difficult for them to understand complex cancer information. Their cultural backgrounds may not support their following recommended cancer prevention and control health and life-style practices. They may experience economic limitations that make it difficult to access needed care, as well as to navigate complicated and bureaucratic health care systems. This review and policy article examines these serious challenges to effectively communicating relevant health information to vulnerable populations and suggests strategies for enhancing strategic use of communication messages and media to promote cancer prevention and control.

Keywords: Health Information, Cancer Prevention and Control, Health Information for Promoting Cancer Prevention and Control, Cancer, Health, Information

Article Details

How to Cite
KREPS, Gary L.. The Central Role of Relevant Health Information for Promoting Cancer Prevention and Control. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 2, feb. 2023. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3615>. Date accessed: 23 nov. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i2.3615.
Section
Review Articles

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Future health of our nation. September 2022. Accessed February 9, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/healthreport/infographics/aging/index.htm#:~:text=Future%20Health%20of%20our%20Nation%20(Text)&text=Greater%20numbers%20of%20older%20people,killing%20640%2C000%20people%20each%20year
2. Cao W, Chen HD, Yu YW, Li N, Chen WQ. Changing profiles of cancer burden worldwide and in China: a secondary analysis of the global cancer statistics 2020. Chinese Medical J. 2021; 5;134(07):783-91
3. Ahmad FB, Anderson RN. The leading causes of death in the US for 2020. JAMA. 2021; 11;325(18):1829-30.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading causes of death. September 2022. Accessed February 9, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
5. Kreps GL. Addressing challenges to effectively disseminate relevant health information. World Medical and Health Policy, 2022; 14(2).
6. Yang Y, Yu G, Pan J, Kreps GL. Public trust in sources and channels on judgement accuracy in food safety misinformation with the moderation effect of self-affirmation: Evidence from the HINTS-China database. World Medical and Health Policy. 2022; 14(3),
7. Kreps GL. Strategic communication for cancer prevention and control: Reaching and influencing vulnerable audiences. In: Georgakilas A, ed. Cancer Prevention (pp. 375-388), 2012. Intech. https://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/35599/InTech-Strategic_communication_for_cancer_prevention_and_control_reaching_and_influencing_vulnerable_audiences.pdf
8. Kreps GL, Sivaram R. The central role of strategic health communication in enhancing breast cancer outcomes across the continuum of care in limited-resource countries. Cancer, 2008; 113(S8), 2331-2337.
9. Kreps GL. The impact of communication on cancer risk, incidence, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Health Communication, 2003, 15: 163–171.
10. Yip CH, Smith RA, Anderson BO, et al. Guideline implementation for breast health care in low and middle-income countries: Early detection and resource allocation. Cancer, 2008, 113(S8), 2244-2256.
11. Khan S, Chambers D, Neta G. Revisiting time to translation: Implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in cancer control. Cancer Causes & Control. 2021 Mar;32(3):221-30.
12. Cree IA, Indave Ruiz BI, Zavadil J, McKay J, et al. The international collaboration for cancer classification and research. International Journal of Cancer. 2021;148(3):560-571.
13. Finney-Rutten L, Hesse B, Moser R, Kreps GL. eds. Building the evidence base in cancer communication, 2011, Hampton Press.
14. Kreps GL, Chapelsky Massimilla D. Cancer communications research and health outcomes: Review and challenge. Communication Studies, 2010, 53(4), 318-336.
15. O’Hair HD, Kreps, GL. Sparks, L. Handbook of Communication and Cancer Care. 2007, Hampton Press.
16. Kreps GL. Transdisciplinary health communication research across the continuum of care. In C. Lambert & M. Grimm (Eds.), Health communication as a transdisciplinary field, 2017, pp. 13-22. Nomos Verlag.
17. De Jesus M, Rodrigue CM, Rahmani S, Balamou C. Addressing cancer screening inequities by promoting cancer prevention knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, and screening uptake among low-income and illiterate immigrant women in France. International Journal of Public Health, 2021, 15;66:1604055.
18. Kreps GL. Strategic use of communication to market cancer prevention and control to vulnerable populations. Comunicação e Sociedade, 2012, 11-22, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.23(2012).1358
19. Kreps GL, Bonaguro E. Communication and cancer prevention, control, and care. In: Wright KB, Moore S, Eds., Applied health communication, 2007.257–269. Hampton Press.
20. Fife BL. The conceptualization of meaning in illness. Social science & medicine. 1994 Jan 1;38(2):309-16.
21. Kreps GL, Canzona MR. The role of communication and information in symptom management. In: Wittenberg Lyles E, et al, eds. Textbook of palliative care communication. 2015, 23:119-26, Oxford University Press.
22. Kreps GL. Relational communication in health care. In Thornton BC, Kreps GL, (Eds.). Perspectives on health communication, 1993, (pp. 51-65). Waveland Press.
23. Fisher HM, Winger JG, Miller SN, et al. Relationship between social support, physical symptoms, and depression in women with breast cancer and pain. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2021 Sep;29(9):5513-21.
24. Guan M, Han JY, Shah DV, Gustafson DH. Exploring the role of social support in promoting patient participation in health care among women with breast cancer. Health Communication. 2021 Nov 10;36(13):1581-9.
25. Seiler A, Jenewein J. Resilience in cancer patients. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2019 Apr 5:10:208.
26. Kreps GL. Disseminating relevant health information to underserved audiences: implications of the Digital Divide Pilot Projects. Journal of the Medical Library Association. 2005 Oct;93(4 Suppl): S68.
27. Kreps GL. Public access to relevant cancer information: Results from the Health Information National Trends Survey and implications for breast cancer education in Malaysia. In: Hashim Z. ed. Proceedings of the Malaysian National Breast Cancer Education Summit, 2007. Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.
28. Kreps GL. Enhancing access to relevant health information. In Carveth R, Kretchmer SB, & Schuler D. eds. Shaping the network society: Patterns for participation, action, and change, (pp. 149-152), 2002. CPSR.
29. Link E, Baumann E, Kreps GL, Czerwinski F, Rosset M, Suhr R. Expanding the Health Information National Trends Survey research program internationally to examine global health communication trends: Comparing health information seeking behaviors in the U.S. and Germany. Journal of Health Communication; 2022; DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2134522
30. Oh KM, Kreps GL, Jun J, Ramsey, L. Cancer information seeking and awareness of cancer information sources among Korean Americans. Journal of Cancer Education; 2011; 26, 355-364.
31. Kreps GL. Online information and communication systems to enhance health outcomes through communication convergence. Human Communication Research; 2017 Oct 1;43(4):518-30.
32. Mayer DK, Terrin NC, Kreps GL, Menon U, McCance K, Parsons SK, Mooney KH. Cancer survivors’ information seeking behaviors: A comparison of survivors who do and do not seek information about cancer. Patient Education and Counseling; 2007 Mar 1;65(3):342-50.
33. Oh KM, Jun J, Zhao X, Kreps GL, Lee EE. Cancer information seeking behaviors of Korean American women: a mixed-methods study using surveys and focus group interviews. Journal of Health Communication; 2015 Oct 3;20(10):1143-54.
34. Kreps GL, Gustafson D, Salovey P, et al. The NCI digital divide pilot projects: Implications for cancer education. Journal of Cancer Education, 2007; 22: S56-S60.
35. Mayer DK, Terrin NC, Kreps GL, et al. Cancer survivors’ information seeking behaviors: A comparison of survivors who do and don’t seek information. Patient Education and Counseling; 2007; 65(3): 342–350.
36. Kreps GL. Communication and palliative care: E-health interventions and pain management. In Moore R. ed. Handbook of pain and palliative care: Biobehavioral approaches for the life course, 2nd edition; 2018, pp. 71-81. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95369-4_5
37. Freeman HP. Poverty, culture, and social injustice: Determinants of cancer disparities. CA: A Cancer J for Clinicians; 2004, 54: 72–77.
38. Kreps GL. Health advocacy and health communication for elderly health care consumers: Rationale, demand, and policy implications. Journal of Elder Policy;, 2021, 1(2), 113-138, doi: 10.18278/jep.1.2.5
39. Kreps GL, Ed. Global Health Communication for Immigrants and Refugees: Cases, Theories, and Strategies; 2022, Routledge.
40. Kreps GL. One size does not fit all: Adapting communication to the needs and literacy levels of individuals. Annals Family Medicine; 2006, http//www.annfammed.org/cgi/eletters/4/3/205
41. Kreps GL, Kunimoto. E. Effective communication in multicultural health care settings. 1994, Sage Publications.
42. Kreps GL. Stigma and the reluctance to address mental health issues in minority communities. Journal of Family Strengths; 2017;17(1):3.
43. Kreps GL, Sparks L. Meeting the health literacy needs of immigrant populations. Patient education and counseling. 2008 Jun 1;71(3):328-32.
44. Betancourt JR, Green AR, Carrillo E, Ananeh-Firempong O. Defining cultural competence: A practical framework for addressing racial-ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public Health Reports, 2003, 118: 293–302.
45. Surbone A. Cultural aspects of communication in cancer care. Supportive care in cancer. 2008 Mar;16(3):235-40.
46. Beach WA. Making cancer visible: Unmasking patients’ subjective experiences. Health Communication. 2019 Dec 6;34(14):1683-96.
47. Kreuter MW, McClure SM. The role of culture in health communication. Annual Review of Public Health, 2004; 25: 439–455.
48. Kreps GL. Communication and racial inequities in health care. The American Behavioral Scientist, 2005; 49: 1–15.
49. Kreps GL. Evaluating health communication programs to enhance health care and health promotion. Journal of Health Communication. 2014; 2;19(12):1449-59.
50. Kreps GL, Neuhauser L. Designing health information programs to promote the health and well-being of vulnerable populations: The benefits of evidence-based strategic health communication. In: Smith CA, Keselman, A. eds. Meeting health information needs outside of healthcare: Opportunities and challenges (pp. 3-17), 2015, Chandos Publishing.
51. Kreps GL, O'Hair D. eds. Communication and health outcomes. 1995; Hampton Press.
52. Street Jr RL, Makoul G, Arora NK, Epstein RM. How does communication heal? Pathways linking clinician–patient communication to health outcomes. Patient education and counseling. 2009; Mar 1;74(3):295-301.
53. Stewart MA. Effective physician-patient communication and health outcomes: a review. CMAJ: Canadian medical association journal. 1995; May 5;152(9):1423.
54. Bowen DJ, Miller SM. Communication in cancer prevention and control. Journal of Health Communication, 2009; 14:sup1, 3-4, DOI 10.1080/10810730902911081
55. de Looper M, Smets E, Schouten BC, Bolle S, Belgers EH, Eddes EH, Leijtens JW, van Weert J. The Patient Navigator: Can a systematically developed online health information tool improve patient participation and outcomes related to the consultation in older patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer? BMC Cancer. 2022; Dec;22(1):1-21.
56. Krist AH, Nease DE, Kreps GL, Overholser L, McKenzie M. Engaging patients in primary and specialty care. In: Oncology informatics 2016 Jan 1 (pp. 55-79). Academic Press.
57. Kreps GL. Communication and effective interprofessional health care teams. Int Arch Nurs Health Care. 2016; 2(3):51.
58. Chumbler NR, Kobb R, Harris L, Richardson LC, et al. Healthcare utilization among veterans undergoing chemotherapy: the impact of a cancer care coordination/home-telehealth program. The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management. 2007; Oct 1;30(4):308-17.
59. Kreps GL. Relational communication in health care. Southern Speech Communication Journal. 1988; Jun 1;53(4):344-59.
60. Kreps GL, Villagran MM, Zhao X, McHorney C, et al. Development and validation of motivational messages to improve prescription medication adherence for patients with chronic health problems. Patient Education and Counseling, 2011; 83, 365-371.
61. Kreps GL. Promoting a consumer orientation to health care and health promotion. J Health Psychology, 1996; 1: 41–48.
62. Maibach EW. Parrott, R. eds. Designing health messages: Approaches from communication theory and public health practice. 1995, Sage Publications.
63. Alpert JM, Krist AH, Aycock RA, Kreps GL. Designing User-Centric patient portals: clinician and patients' uses and Gratifications. Telemedicine and e-Health. 2017; 1;23(3):248-53.
64. Gallant L, Irizarry C, Kreps GL. User-centric hospital web sites: a case for trust and personalization. E-service Journal. 2007; Jan;5(2):5-26.
65. Neuhauser L, Kreps GL. Integrating design science theory and methods to improve the development and evaluation of health communication programs. Journal of Health Communication. 2014; Dec 2;19(12):1460-71.
66. Kreps GL, Neuhauser L. Artificial intelligence and immediacy: Designing health communication to personally engage consumers and providers. Patient Education and Counseling. 2013; Aug 1;92(2):205-10.
67. Maibach EW, Kreps GL, Bonaguro EW. Developing strategic communication campaigns for HIV=AIDS prevention. In AIDS: Effective health communication for the 90s, In Ratzan S. ed. 1993. Taylor and Francis, 15–35.
68. Kreps GL. Translating Health Communication Research into Practice: The Influence of Health Communication Scholarship on Health Policy, Practice, and Outcomes. In: The Routledge Handbook of Health Communication 2011 Aug 24 (pp. 617-631). Routledge.
69. Kreps GL. The role of strategic communication to respond effectively to pandemics. Journal of Multicultural Discourses. 2021; Jan 2;16(1):12-9.
70. Kreps GL. Applying Weick's model of organizing to health care and health promotion: highlighting the central role of health communication. Patient Education and Counseling. 2009; Mar 1;74(3):347-55.
71. Kreps G, Viswanath K, Harris L. Advancing communication as a science: Research opportunities from the federal sector. Journal of Applied Communication Research. 2002; 30(4):369-81.
72. Sparks L, Kreps GL. Cancer Communication Science: Intergroup Perspectives. In: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication 2017, DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.464.
73. Hesse BW. Health Communication Research and Practice at the Level of Government, Foundations, Public Policy, and NGOs 1. In: The Routledge Handbook of Health Communication 2021; (pp. 572-586). Routledge.
74. Kreps GL. Opportunities for health communication scholarship to shape public health policy and practice: Examples from the National Cancer Institute. In: The Routledge Handbook of Health Communication 2003; Jun 20 (pp. 623-638). Routledge.
75. Kreps GL, Bright MA, Fleisher L, Marcus A, Morra ME, Perocchia, RS. Future directions for the Cancer Information Service and cancer education. Journal of Cancer Education, 2007; 22 (Supplement 1), S70-S73.
76. Kreps GL, Alpert J. Methods for evaluating online health information systems. In Liamputtong P. ed. Handbook of research methods in health social sciences, 2018, pp. 978-981, Springer Nature Publishers,
77. Zavala VA, Bracci PM, Carethers JM, et al. Cancer health disparities in racial/ethnic minorities in the United States. British Journal of Cancer, 2021; 124(2):315-32.
78. Kreps GL. Communicating to promote justice in the modern health care system. Journal of Health Communication, 1996; 1, (1), 99-109.
79. Kreps GL. Consumer control over and access to health information. Annals of Family Medicine, 2012; 10(5). http://www.annfammed.org/content/10/5/428.full/reply#annalsfm_el_25148
80. Kreps GL. Promoting patient comprehension of relevant health information. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 2018; 7:56, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-018-0250-z
81. Nambisan P, Lyytinen K, Stange K, Kahana E, Kreps GL. A comprehensive digital self-care support system for older adults: A multidisciplinary framework. Innovation in Aging, 2019; 3(Suppl 1), S326, PMCID: PMC6840472, doi.org/10.1093%2Fgeroni%2Figz038.1190
82. Kreps GL. Health Advocacy and Health Communication for Elderly Health Care Consumers: Rationale, Demand, and Policy Implications. Journal of Elder Policy. 2021; Mar 26;1(2).
83. Ngenye L, Wright K. Online social support groups/communities: Implications of theoretical and empirical findings for individuals coping with health concerns. In: Research Anthology on Improving Health Literacy Through Patient Communication. 2022; 349-369, IGI Global.
84. Kreps GL, Chen Y-NK, Chan, JM. Dialogue: Interdisciplinary and community-based approaches to health communication. Communication and Society, 2011; 17, 1-17.
85. Kreps GL, Neuhauser L, Sparks L, Villagran M. The power of community-based health communication interventions to promote cancer prevention and control for at-risk populations. Patient Education and Counseling, 2008; 71(3), 315-318.
86. Minkler M, Wallerstein N. eds. Community-based participatory research for health: From process to outcomes. 2011[ John Wiley & Sons.
87. Minkler M. Linking science and policy through community-based participatory research to study and address health disparities. American Journal of Public Health. 2010; Apr;100(S1):S81-7.