Rose Clark-Hitt1

Marleah Dean2

Sandi W. Smith1

Samantha Nazione1

Charles Atkin1

Pamela Whitten1

1 Michigan State University, 2 University of New Mexico

Background: Breast Cancer Prevalence & Health Information on InternetBreast Cancer PrevalenceNew cases diagnosed per year (over 250,000)Deaths each year from breast cancer (over

40,000)Internet and HealthOver 80% of Americans report using the

internet to visit health websites (Fox, 2006) 41% of BC patients use internet for information

(Fogel, 2002)

Background: Prior Content Analysis ResearchBreast cancer news media content

analyses NewspapersTV news

Breast cancer website content analysisContent & website quality

Background: Purpose of Present Content AnalysisGoal to provide comprehensive review of

breast cancer information on the web, extending prior content analyses

Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center grantGoal to learn about environmental

factors that may increase risks for breast cancer and to communicate to public

BackgroundExamined following categories of content:

1. Awareness2. Environmental risks3. Prevention4. Detection5. Treatment6. Social Support7. Survivorship

Method

SampleGoogle, Yahoo, & MSN

Unit of analysisIndividual web pageN= 415

Ordinal coding Main focus of web page (3) Secondary focus of web page(2) Mention only on web page(1) Absent on web page (0)

2 coders established reliability

Results for Overall CategoriesContent Area Major

EmphasisMinor Emphasis

No Content

Awareness 16% 36% 47%

Environmental Risks

13% 36% 50%

Prevention 16% 45% 39%

Detection 9% 43% 48%

Treatment 22% 41% 38%

Social Support

2% 30% 67%

Survivorship 4% 34% 63%

ResultsAwareness Environmental RisksMost common

awareness topic was information about breast cancer such as types and stages (about 39%)

About 4% of pages had prevalence in terms of number of cases

The most prevalent topic with a major emphasis was exposure to chemicals (5%)

For minor content, greatest number of web pages mentioned avoiding unhealthy diet (10.7%) and the role of hormones (10.5%).

ResultsPrevention DetectionVery little content on

parental prevention behaviors to help daughters (1.2% had minor emphasis)

About 10% had minor emphasis and 5% major emphasis on individual prevention

About a third contained information about symptoms

Mammograms appeared in about 16%

BSE, X-ray, and MRI in about 5%

ResultsTreatment Survivorship & Social

SupportChemotherapy most

common treatment topic (33%), followed by surgical procedures (23%), radiation (20%), and holistic medicine (5%)

Survivorship most common content related to side effects of treatment (about 5%)

For social support, the most common content was network support (about 13%)

Implications & Conclusions Most common topics: treatment & preventionPrevention: similar findings with prior work

showing most prevention messages are directed at self, not helping others prevent breast cancerLittle coverage of parental prevention

Environmental risks: hormones, avoiding particular chemicals, foods

Limitations: small sample of availability on internet; search terms, & patterns of use

Implications & Conclusions

Provides insight on content women are exposed to when searching popular websites

May provide insight for website design to better serve women

Future directions Agenda setting and how content on web

pages influences perceptions of what topics are important regarding breast cancer

WebsitesCornell University Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors

envirocancer.cornell.edu

Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Centers

bcerc.org/home.htm

BreastCancer.Org breastcancer.org

Breast Cancer Fund breastcancerfund.org

National Breast Cancer Coalition stopbreastcancer.org

National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences

niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/breast-cancer/index.cfm

Yahoo Health health.yahoo.com/breastcancer-overview/breast-cancer-topic-overview/healthwise--tv3617.html

Mayo Clinic mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/DS00328

Oncolink oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=33&id=8320

The National Cancer Institute cancer.gov/cancerinfo/types/breast

The National Cancer Institute cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdqratmentbreas/helathprofessional/allpages/print

Wikpedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

BreastCancer.net breastcancernet.org

American Cancer Society cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=LRN&dt=5