Perceived social support in social networks increases cancer-related information seeking among cancer patients through communication efficacy

Previous research shows that information seeking serves an integral role in cancer patients' ability to participate in decision-making about their treatments, and imparts other beneficial outcomes. However, seeking behaviors vary among this population. This study focuses on the role of social determinants in information-seeking behavior, in particular on the influence of perceived social support on information seeking. The study addresses the question of whether broad social network of close friends equips cancer patients with increased social and emotional resources for coping with their cancer, which then leads to an increased likelihood of actively seeking cancer-related information. In addition, the study tests whether effects of perceived social support on information seeking are mediated by communication efficacy. The results are based on data collected from a randomly drawn sample from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry, comprising breast, prostate and colorectal cancer patients who completed mail surveys in the Fall of 2006. The response rate for baseline subjects (N=2013) was 85%. Results are consistent with a cross-sectional mediation effect in which perceived social support is positively associated with coping efficacy (B = 0.17, SE = 0.03, p = 0.001), which, in turn, is positively associated with cancer-related information seeking (B = 0.13, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001). While the effect size is small, on the aggregate level this finding is significant and indicates that perceived social support in social networks is an important resource for cancer patients, and can bolster abilities to cope with survivor issues as well as lead to increased information-seeking.