Information Behavior of Cancer Patients in the Course of Disease

• In Event: Health and Medical Information Seeking and Processing (High-Density)

Abstract

While there is a broad body of research on cancer patients’ information behavior, the dynamic character of information behavior is rarely studied, even though there is some evidence that different stages of the disease result in different information behavior. In 50 semi-structured qualitative interviews with cancer patients, we therefore investigated their information needs and their use of information sources in different situations and stages of the disease. We illustrate differences in the information behavior 1) after diagnosis, 2) during treatment, and 3) in aftercare, and illustrate how results can inform the development of need-oriented information sources.

Authors

• Michael Grimm, Hans Bredow Institute for Media Research

• Stefanie Wahl, Freie U Berlin