Most turn to doctor, Internet for information
TORONTO AUGUST 20th, 2014 –
In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1798
Canadians 18 years of age and older, as many as 9-in-10 or more had been
closely touched by cancer (92% in total), either as a close family member of
someone who had died of cancer (35%) or of someone who has had cancer and
survived (26%), followed by those who have had cancer themselves (10%).
Somewhat fewer say they have a friend who died of cancer (6%) or one who
survived (5%). One tenth have had multiple encounters with cancer (10%).
Doctor, Internet are leading information sources
While the family doctor is seen to be
the primary information source on cancer for the largest group (45%), this is
followed by the internet (32%) and no other information source is used by as
many as a tenth, including the media, friends and family or somewhere else (6%
each). Just one-twentieth claim not to look for information on cancer (5%).
Two thirds say cancer information in Canada is "excellent
"or "good"
Two thirds of adult Canadians say
cancer information sources in this country are good or excellent (62%), with
just fewer than a quarter saying they are excellent (22%). Perceptions of
excellence are common to the youngest (26%), males (25%), mid-income groups
($40K to $60K - 27%), in the Atlantic provinces (27%) and especially Alberta
(36%), among those who seek information from their doctor (27%) and the
best educated (post grad - 26%).
6-in-10 are cancer patients, care for them or treat them
Fully 6-in-10 Canadians are involved
in treating cancer, caregiving those who have it or are patients themselves
(59%). This includes doctors who treat cancer patients (11%), other medical
professionals who treat cancer (7%), support workers (3%), cancer patients (6%)
or their family members (33%).
"These are the cancer years. It
touches everyone, and more and more Canadians are directly involved in treating
it. That's why the sources of informed and unbiased information available are
so important, and why it is so critical to ensure the Internet, the largest
non-medical data source, is effective and easy to use," said Forum
Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne
Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be
reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416)
960-9603.
