Online Health Information Seeking Before and After Oncology Consultations and its Impact on Patients' Anxiety and Uncertainty-A Longitudinal Questionnaire Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Patients with cancer increasingly engage in online health information seeking (OHIS), yet the impact thereof on their anxiety and uncertainty remains unclear. This study aimed to: (1) examine how, when, and why patients engage in OHIS before and after oncological consultations; (2) identify patient characteristics (sociodemographic, medical, psychological) associated with OHIS; and (3) explore the relationship between OHIS, state anxiety, and uncertainty.

Methods

Patients with various cancer diagnoses and at various phases-of-care completed three self-report questionnaires: before (T0), directly after (T1), and 2 weeks after (T2) their outpatient consultation.

Results

Half (50%) of patients (n = 281) engaged in OHIS. Commonly sought topics included physic

SUBMITTER: Bijlsma E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12662792 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature