Exploring the Link Between Cancer Information Complexity and Understanding Medical Statistics in Online Health Information Seeking: Insights from Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)

Introduction: Understanding the factors influencing perceptions of cancer-related information is crucial for improving public health communication. This study explores the association between perceived difficulty in understanding information related to cancer (Cancer info Hard to Understand) and concerns about the quality of cancer-related information (Concern about Cancer Info Quality) with the extent of difficulty in comprehending medical statistics information (Understanding Medical Statistics). Methods: Data came from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The cross-sectional study included 1972 participants with a response rate of 67.36% for Cancer info Hard to Understand, and 65.31% for Concern about Cancer Info Quality. We investigated the effect of Understanding Medical Statistics on Cancer info Hard to Understand, and Concern about Cancer Info Quality using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models with survey weights. The multivariable logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education level, employment history, confidence in internet health resources, and social media. The chi-square test was used to measure the association between the predictors and the outcome. Results: Individuals finding medical statistics hard to understand were more likely to be concerned regarding the quality of the cancer-related information (AOR=1.74, 95% CI: [1.20, 2.52]) and also found cancer-related information difficult to comprehend (AOR=1.89, 95% CI: [1.19, 3.00]). Also, the influence of social media on health information seeking was significantly associated with Concern about Cancer Info Quality (AOR=2.24; 95% CI: [1.33, 3.76]), and Cancer info Hard to Understand (AOR=2.84; 95% CI: [1.61, 5.03]). Conclusion: This study highlights the critical role of understanding medical statistics in shaping perceptions of cancer-related information. From an epidemiological perspective, enhancing statistical literacy is essential for making informed health decisions, addressing health disparities, and designing effective, targeted cancer communication strategies.