ASPO Abstracts
Cancer screening information-seeking in the era of COVID-19
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
PURPOSEIt is unclear how cancer screening information-seeking may have changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic given the disruption to routine screening and documented delays in the diagnosis and treatment of screening-eligible cancers. The aim of this study was to examine cancer screening information-seeking before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS), a well-known and trusted multichannel source of cancer information.METHODS We analyzed cancer screening inquiries from members of the general public before (March 2019 - March 2020) and after (March 2020 - March 2021) the CIS received a general public inquiry on COVID-19. We also examined the CIS Point of Access (email, LiveHelp, social media, telephone), Discussion Topics, and Referrals given by CIS staff associated with these inquiries. We conducted chi-squared tests to compare cancer screening inquiry counts across the two time periods. RESULTS Among general public users, there were 1,906 cancer screening inquiries to the CIS between the pre-COVID (n=837, 43.9%) and COVID periods (n=1069, 56.1%). Cancer site inquiries across the two periods included breast (n=953), cervical (n=179), colorectal (n=183), general (n=327), lung (n=51), and 28 other cancers combined (n=213). The proportion of breast cancer screening inquiries increased after COVID (p<.001), whereas cervical, colorectal, and other cancer inquiries decreased (p<.001). After COVID, more inquiries were made by telephone (p<.001), while other access points decreased; screening inquiries related to finding health care services, managing costs, and general cancer questions increased, but those related to tests and other topics decreased (p<.001); and Referrals decreased except for those to national and community organizations or to the CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (p<.001). CONCLUSION We found the COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with differences in cancer information-seeking among the general public using the CIS by Point of Access, Cancer Site, Discussion Topics, and Referrals by CIS staff. Future work should evaluate how these changes in information-seeking may influence intentions to screen for cancer post-pandemic.
Keywords: Health Information-Seeking, Cancer Screening, COVID-19, Pandemic