Low awareness of and referral to national cancer information resources among physicians

Abstract

There are currently more than 11 million cancer survivors in the United States ( 1). With improvements in cancer screening technology and treatment, this number is likely to increase. The information needs of cancer patients and survivors could strain an already burdened health-care system, underscoring the need for reliable cancer information from credible sources ( 2– 4).
Although many quality cancer information resources are available, recent data ( 5) indicate that health-care professionals are the most trusted source for health information, followed by US government health agencies that produce and scientifically vet materials for patients and health-care professionals, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Cancer Institute's Web site ( www.cancer.gov ) and the Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER) serve as NIH's primary …