Using information for emotion-focused coping: Cancer patients' use of a cancer helpline

Objectives. This study investigated the role of information in coping through use of a cancer specific telephone helpline by 101 adults with cancer. Design. Use of the service was measured by interview schedule between 3 and 11 days after participants called the helpline. Selected items were coded to compute scores of emotion-focused coping and of problem-focused coping. This permitted investigation of the relationship between mode of coping and other aspects of helpline use and characteristics of the caller. Methods. An interview schedule was administered over the telephone. Results. The findings indicate that information received over the telephone was frequently associated with emotion-focused coping efforts as well as for problem-focused efforts. Mailed literature was also associated with significant emotion-focused coping. Conclusions. Implications for the conceptualization of information use in coping models and measures are discussed and suggestions made for the development of cancer information services.