Relationship of patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance: A social cognitive perspective

Objective: We examined the relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance and estimated the mediating role of self-efficacy in this relationship. Methods: Using nationally representative cross-sectional data from the U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 2033), this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance via correlation analysis, stepwise regression models, and mediation analysis. Results: Patient-centered communication was significantly negatively associated with cancer risk information avoidance (beta=-0.09, p < 0.01) after controlling for gender, income, education, and cancer risk perception. Self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship of patient-centered communication with cancer risk information avoidance. Conclusion: Patient-centered communication can improve patients' self-efficacy, thereby preventing them from avoiding cancer risk information. Practice implications: The negative relationship between patient-centered communication and cancer risk information avoidance substantiates that improving patient-centered communication is a promising approach to support caregivers in their activities, reduce patients' subjective cancer burden, and even improve their health. To address cancer-related issues, policymakers can consider interventions from the external environment and internal personal cognition perspectives. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.