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Linda Squiers

Publications and source records attributed to Linda Squiers.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Requests for information by family and friends of cancer patients calling the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service.

PURPOSE: To characterize their information needs, we examined the main topics of inquiry and discussion (subjects of interaction, SOI) of calls made by family and friends of cancer patients to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service's (CIS) 1-800-4-CANCER telephone information service and summarized differences by sociodemographic characteristics. DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: Data from 26 789 family or friends of cancer patients calling the CIS between September 2002 and August 2003 were analyzed. Frequencies, chi(2)'s, and logistic regressions were conducted to ascertain sample characteristics and sociodemographic correlates of each SOI. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The greatest proportion of calls concerned specific treatment information (54.9%) and general cancer site information (36.9%). Calls about specific treatment information were more likely among Asians, Hawaiian Natives, and Pacific Islanders (OR = 1.23, 1.04-1.45), and those with higher education (OR = 1.21, 1.18-1.25). As age increased, the odds of calls about specific treatment information also increased (OR = 1.05, 1.03-1.07). Females (OR = 0.78, 0.72-0.84), Hispanics (OR = 0.77, 0.67-0.89), African-Americans (OR = 0.68, 0.61-0.76), and American-Indians and Alaskan Natives (OR = 0.74, 0.58-0.93) were less likely to inquire about specific treatment information. Inquiries about general cancer site information were more likely among females (OR = 1.14, 1.06-1.23) and less likely among younger callers (OR = 0.95, 0.93-0.97) and African-Americans (OR = 0.87, 0.78-0.98). Differences in inquiries made by sociodemographic subgroups can inform the CIS' and other cancer-related organizations' efforts to develop and disseminate cancer information for family and friends of cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Awareness of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS).

Established in 1975, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service (CIS) is a national information and education network that serves the nation by providing the latest scientific cancer information to the American public. The purpose of this study was to determine the public's awareness of the CIS and other national cancer and health organizations by analyzing data from the NCI's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 2003). This study also examined sociodemographic, health, and communication correlates of awareness of CIS and other national health organizations: American Cancer Society (ACS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NCI. Results indicated that awareness of the CIS was low (32.8%). Some subgroups were more likely to be aware of the CIS than others. When comparing awareness levels of the four national health organizations, marked differences in patterns of awareness among specific subgroups emerged for many sociodemographic variables. For example, minority groups were significantly more aware of the CIS than Whites; however, for all three other organizations a greater percentage of Whites were aware of each organization. For the NIH, NCI, and ACS, respondents in the highest income group were most aware of each organization and, as income level increased awareness also increased. The CIS, respondents with the lowest income levels, however, were more aware of the CIS compared with middle- and high-income groups. A similar pattern was found for other sociodemographic variables. Results of this study will guide the development of a targeted promotional campaign for the CIS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Cancer-related information seeking: hints from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS).

Few nationally representative surveys have assessed the cancer-related information seeking behavior of the American public. Data for our analysis were from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The goals of our analysis were to characterize cancer information seekers (3,011) and nonseekers (3,348) in terms of sociodemographic, health care access, and health status variables, and to describe the nature of the cancer-related information being sought by information seekers. Significant and independent associations with seeking status were identified for gender, age, race, income, education, personal and family history of cancer, and having a usual source of health care. Information seekers were less likely to be male (OR = .51); aged 65 or older (OR = .40); Hispanic (OR = .60); to have a usual source of health care (OR = .70); and more likely to have incomes greater than $50,000 (OR = 1.50), some college (OR = 1.87) or a college degree (OR = 2.95), a prior cancer diagnosis (OR = 3.57), or a family history of cancer (OR = 2.17). Among cancer information seekers, the most frequently searched topic was cancer site-specific information (50.2%). Individuals who reported searching for cancer site-specific information were most frequently looking for information about breast cancer (23.8%), prostate cancer (11.5%), and skin cancer (11.3%). The HINTS survey provides a unique opportunity to explore the characteristics of information seekers and nonseekers and the content of information being sought by the public in a nationally representative sample; understanding gained from this effort provides generalizable and policy-relevant information about the American public's information needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Cancer patients' information needs across the cancer care continuum: evidence from the cancer information service.

This study examines the information needs of cancer patients who contacted the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service (CIS) via a toll-free telephone number. Records from 19,030 calls received from cancer patients between September 2002 and August 2003 were analyzed to determine differences in subjects of interaction (main topics of inquiry and discussion) for subgroups of patients based on demographic characteristics and stage along the cancer care continuum (pretreatment, in-treatment, post-treatment, recurrence). Females were more likely than males to inquire about cancer screening/diagnosis, support services, psychosocial issues, and general cancer site information, but they were less likely to seek specific cancer treatment information. Older patients were more likely than younger patients to seek specific treatment information, but they were less interested in support services, psychosocial issues, and prevention/risk factors. Compared with White callers, Hispanics and most minorities were more likely to seek support service information, and African Americans were more likely to have questions related to psychosocial issues. Compared with patients in treatment, patients in recurrence were more likely to seek specific treatment information; patients not in treatment were more likely to seek medical referral information; and patients in post-treatment were more likely to seek screening/diagnosis and prevention/risk factor information. Findings will help the CIS and other cancer-focused organizations address the distinct information needs of different subsets of cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Analysis of a database of materials for HIV prevention program evaluation.

Program evaluation technology transfer is the transfer of information on program evaluation from research to practitioners. There have been anecdotal reports of a lack of technology transfer materials related to HIV prevention program evaluation, especially materials usable by persons without extensive training in evaluation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed available program evaluation materials relevant to HIV prevention and developed a database of those materials. Materials were classified according to appropriate audience, level of evaluation expertise required, steps in the evaluation process addressed, and other criteria. The database was queried to determine the number of materials available for various combinations of search criteria. These queries revealed that for certain audiences and steps in the evaluation process there are few materials, especially usable by individuals without evaluation experience. The conclusion is that for certain areas of program evaluation, and for certain audiences, more evaluation technology transfer materials are needed.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2003

The National Diabetes, Influenza, and Pneumococcal Campaign: an evaluation of campaign relevancy, partnerships, and media relations.

The Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, collaborated with its 59 Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCPs) to implement in 1998-1999 the National Diabetes Influenza and Pneumococcal Campaign. Postcampaign evaluation examined DPCPs' perceptions of the relevancy of the campaign in reaching the target population (adults aged 25-64 years with diabetes), establishing successful partnerships, and engaging the media. Most DPCPs stated the campaign reached their target population. DPCPs most commonly partnered with existing networks such as public health organizations or government agencies and direct health care providers. A majority of DPCPs did not find partnerships with direct health care providers to be effective in this campaign, but public health organizations, peer review organizations, and coalitions were described as successful partners. States in which DPCPs conducted follow-up calls to television stations regarding the airing of public service announcements generally had more announcements aired than states in which such calls were not made. Postcampaign evaluation findings also indicate that DPCPs who attempted to engage nontraditional partners (e.g., media outlets) achieved greater campaign success than those who did not. Future campaign efforts will likely benefit from relationships established with nontraditional partners, such as retailers, media outlets, local pharmacies, and faith-based organizations.

Adult↗