Mothers,Sons and Testicular Cancer: An Exploratory Investigation of Health Communication

This study highlights the importance of parent-child communication of sensitive health-related issues, specifically the importance of cancer prevention discussions. For females, communication about breast cancer has been desensitized; yet, testicular cancer is not being discussed among males, even though it is highly curable when caught early. Testicular cancer primarily impacts males ages 15–40, so introducing the conversation early is important. In this exploratory study, mothers (N = 22) participated in three focus group discussions and described communication with their sons about general health issues and testicular cancer. While the mothers discussed a number of health issues with their sons, they did not mention testicular cancer and believed their sons knew very little about testicular cancer. Mothers' communication about testicular cancer with their sons was characterized by uncertainty and ambiguity. Findings from this study shed light on how little mothers know about testicular cancer as well as the need for comprehensive testicular cancer campaigns that target intervening publics.     

Comparing Theories of Media Learning: Cognitive Mediation,Information Utility,and Knowledge Acquisition from Cancer News

Determining what factors predict media learning is an important avenue of research for the field of mass communication. The present study provides a comparative investigation of two models of media learning: the cognitive mediation model and the information utility model. Participants (N = 1,076) read a news article related to scientific discoveries relevant to cancer prevention and responded to all constructs of the two models. Recognition and comprehension were used to measure knowledge acquisition. Results generally support previous predictions of each model, though predicted variance remains small. In addition to testing the existing models, a modified cognitive mediation model using a key construct related to information utility—perceived relevance—was tested. The refined cognitive mediation model offered a more nuanced understanding of certain causal mechanisms but did not result in a meaningful change in predictive power of the model. Implications of the theoretical comparison and integration are discussed.     

国内有关硒与癌症发生相关文献的评价

目的:通过对国内有关硒与癌症发生的相关文献进行循证医学评价来了解目前相关文献的质量现状.方法:在生物医学文献数据库中以"硒"和"癌症"为主题词检索建库至2014年6月的相关文献,对检出的文献进行筛选后,利用九级证据评价标准及M量表对所纳入的文献进行评价.结果:九级评价标准:纳入的376篇文献中系统评价/Meta分析的文献为0篇,随机对照试验(RCT)文献33篇,其他343篇.M量表:33篇RCT文献评价结果中4分的文献有3篇,未见大于4分的文献.结论:九级评价结果:目前国内有关硒与癌症关系的研究中,动物研究和体外研究占多数,RCT研究相对较少,系统评价/Meta分析文献未见.M量表评价结果:目前国内有关硒与癌症发生相关文献的质量整体水平不高,在实验研究设计中存在很多问题,有待进一步提高.高质量证据的研究表明硒具有防癌治癌的作用,硒制剂能够增强一些化疗药物的疗效,并且减少化疗或放疗对人体产生的副作用.     

Uncertain Terms: Message Features of Online Cancer News

About 113 million Americans have reported seeking health information online; however, little is known about the quality (or qualities) of the information being retrieved. Users have reported seeking information about health issues in an attempt to reduce negatively appraised uncertainties (Brashers, 2007), but less is known about the ability of the retrieved information to increase or produce unwanted uncertainty. A content analysis of online cancer news was conducted and suggests that 65% of Internet-based cancer news contains message features previously linked to the production of uncertainty (e.g., ambiguous or complex information). Though future research is required regarding uncertainty-related content and its effects, this project provides a foundation for such future endeavors.     

Disclosure of a Cancer Diagnosis in Organizational Peer Relationships

The purpose of this study was to explore types of message content received by peers of cancer survivors (N = 126) during cancer disclosure in the workplace. Coworkers reported cancer disclosure interactions with female (65.5%) and male (34.5%) cancer patients. Based on organizational peer types reported in the literature, coworkers reported differences in specific message content received by informational (36.5%), collegial (52.3%), and special peers (11.1%). Coworker relationships were also examined for perceived interpersonal solidarity based on peer type. Results reveal that messages with a treatment focus were most common with all peer types, followed by nondisclosure. Nondisclosure of a cancer diagnosis between coworkers reinforces cancer patients' needs for privacy boundaries, even within close workplace relationships. Of the three peer types, special peers had the most perceived interpersonal solidarity after a cancer disclosure.     

News Aggregation and Content Differences in Online Cancer News

Gatekeepers usually control news information. However, recent technological advancements might require rethinking previous gatekeeping hierarchies. Aggregation algorithms currently filter and present news information to millions of American Internet users daily. A content analysis demonstrates significant differences between health news content retrieved from Web sites that aggregate their articles from many sources (e.g., Google News), and those that focus on providing news from a limited number of sources (e.g., CNN.com). Explanations for these content differences are discussed, as are implications concerning health information seeking and Internet news consumption.     

Cancer communications research and health outcomes: Review and challenge

This report presents a detailed review of current published research on cancer communications that provide strong positive outcome data on the effectiveness of strategic communications in cancer control. The research literature is examined in three categories based on the communications strategy used and behavior targeted: 1) strategic communications on adoption of prevention behaviors in diverse populations; and on promotion of cancer detection and screening behaviors; 2) tailored communications on promotion of cancer prevention and control; and on promotion of screening and detection behaviors; and 3) interpersonal communications on provision of social support to individuals living with cancer. The review of the literature suggests that communication interventions can influence important health outcomes in cancer prevention and control, and communication is a central process for disseminating cancer information to key populations. For example, the review illustrates the role of the NCI's Cancer Information Service as an important source of communication for providing consumers with relevant cancer information. Implications are drawn from this review for demonstrating the value of the expanded research programs proposed by the National Cancer Institute as part of their Extraordinary Opportunity in Cancer Communications Research initiative.     

硒与胃癌临床研究国内文献质量评价

目的：通过对国内有关硒与胃癌关系研究的文献进行分析,了解目前国内相关研究现状,且为临床医生提供循征医学证据。方法：在中国知网、万方等数据库中检索有关硒与胃癌研究的文献,并运用循征医学评价方法——Jadad 量表,对文献质量及目前研究情况进行分析。结果：经手工和电子数据库检索共得国内硒与胃癌关系研究的文献488 篇,纳入研究的文献283 篇,经Jadad 量表对其进行评价,得到0 分的文献共271 篇（95.76%）,1 分的文献共11 篇（3.89%）,2 分的文献1 篇（0.35%）,大于3分的文献未见。结论：我国有关硒与胃癌关系的临床研究文献质量总体水平较低,有待进一步提高。     

A Grounded Theory of Control over Communication Among Individuals with Cancer

This study explored the meanings that people attribute to talking about their cancer. Framed by interpersonal and health communication scholarship on privacy management and multiple meanings, we asked cancer survivors to describe how and why they discussed their cancer with others. Interviews (focus group or one-on-one) were conducted with 40 survivors. Using a grounded theory approach, we developed a conceptual framework that describes how communication about cancer may be particularly meaningful because it is something that people feel as though they can control during a highly stressful and turbulent time. However, attempts to manage communication are challenged by constraints imposed by others, such as unfavorable and unpredictable reactions to disclosure, which ultimately place limits on survivors’ control.     

Anonymity and Interaction in an Online Breast Cancer Social Support Group

Despite the benefits of using online social support groups, prior research does not provide a solid understanding of the online factors related to an individual’s supportive interaction. Accordingly, this study aims to explore how various aspects of anonymity predict different levels of social support engagement. The current study uncovers that visually identifiable group members are more likely to get supportive responses than are visually anonymous members. Also, when support group members are visually and discursively identifiable, they are more likely to get supportive messages than those who are visually and discursively anonymous. Additionally, the more identifiable support group members are, the more they receive positive messages. Practical implications for the role of social support group members’ anonymity/identifiability on the overall social support process are presented.     

《Cancer Medicine》的运作模式及其启示

对《Cancer Medicine》的期刊工作流程做简要介绍,发现国外优秀期刊既是科学家办刊,又存在学术与出版的博弈。对我国学术期刊的情况进行对标找差,认为学术与出版分离的模式值得借鉴。在明确主编职责、做好编辑合理分工、培育审稿人队伍等方面,我国学术期刊需要进一步完善。     

Communication Efficacy and Couples' Cancer Management: Applying a Dyadic Appraisal Model

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch's (2007) developmental-conceptual model to understand better how couples cope with cancer. Specifically, we hypothesized a dyadic appraisal model in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (prognosis uncertainty), and dyadic coping (communication efficacy) predicted adjustment (cancer management). The study was cross-sectional and included 83 dyads in which one partner had been diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer. For both patients and partners, multilevel analyses using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) indicated that proximal contextual factors predicted dyadic appraisal and dyadic coping. Dyadic appraisal predicted dyadic coping, which then predicted dyadic adjustment. Patients' confidence in their ability to talk about the cancer predicted their own cancer management. Partners' confidence predicted their own and the patient's ability to cope with cancer, which then predicted patients' perceptions of their general health. Implications and future research are discussed.     

Evaluating the Impact of Mediated Literature Searches at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research informationists at a comprehensive cancer center sought to evaluate the impact and value of mediated literature searches in support of their users’ work activities. An assessment tool was identified in the literature and modified by the investigators to solicit feedback from library users and identify the major reason(s) why scientists and health care professionals request literature searches, how they use the resulting information, and the impact that the results may or may not have on their research or patient care/decision-making activities. Survey results were qualitatively analyzed, and future avenues of outreach and promotion of mediated literature search services were identified.     

Naming and Claiming Cancer among African American Women: An Application of Problematic Integration Theory

This study examines how a sample of African American women understands the uncertainties fundamental to cancer risk communication. Utilizing data from four focus groups, Problematic Integration (PI) theory is applied as an interpretive lens for illustrating their felt difficulties of talking openly about cancer and breast cancer in everyday life. The women describe worry about cancer and its prevalence among African American women; ambivalence and uncertainty; belief that what is not uncertain is certain and awful; fear and avoidance; contradictions in “claiming” and “rebuking” cancer; and hopefulness.