Appendix G - Sources Reviewed

Appendix G: Sources Reviewed in the Development of HINTS 4

• Communication Media

• Pew Charitable Trust. Various instruments designed by the Pew Charitable Trust were reviewed in designing the health communication questions for HINTS. Many of these instruments can be found at http://www.pewinternet.org.

• Other Sources. A number of data collection efforts on Internet usage were reviewed, including those administered by (1) the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Education; (2) universities such as the University of California at Los Angeles, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, and Carnegie Mellon; and (3) private companies such as Harris Opinion Polling. In addition, project staff and consultants involved in health communication research were consulted to identify potentially comparable survey collection efforts.

• Cancer Behavior, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This survey is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and was designed to monitor, through telephone interviews, health-promoting and disease-preventing behaviors in the general U.S. population. The BRFSS covers topics such as preventive health practices (e.g., exercise, healthy diet, cancer screenings, and condom use), risk behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse), access to health care, general health status, and demographic information.

• National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, OMB No. 0920-0214, Expiration: December 2007). The NHIS is a cross-sectional survey conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is a probability sample representing the adult, civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Items from the NHIS core pertaining to cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and leisure-time physical activity were reviewed. In addition, the 2000 NHIS cancer control module was reviewed. It covers topics such as diet and nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, cancer screening, genetic testing, and family history.

• Current Population Survey (CPS, OMB No. 0607-0049, Expiration: June 2008). The CPS is a monthly survey of approximately 50,000 households that is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sample is scientifically selected to represent the adult, civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Items on tobacco use contained in the CPS were reviewed for inclusion in this survey.

• National 5-A-Day for Better Health Follow-up Survey (OMB No. 0925-0560, Expiration: March 2009). The National Cancer Institute conducted the National 5-A-Day for Better Health Follow-up Survey to measure 5-year trends in fruit and vegetable intakes, as well as trends in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about diet and nutrition. The study findings will allow NCI to assess the effectiveness of the National 5-A-Day for Better Health Program and other intervention efforts through a telephone survey of approximately 2,600 adults. Items from this survey on fruit and vegetable intake were reviewed.

• Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, OMB No. 0935-0110, Expiration: February 2008). MEPS is the third (and most recent) in a series of national probability surveys conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on the financing and utilization of medical care in the United States. Items on contact with health care providers were reviewed for inclusion in HINTS.

• Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS, OMB No. 0938-0732, Expiration: May 2007). The CAHPS project is a multiyear initiative funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The CAHPS includes multiple survey instruments designed to assess the experiences of respondents with a range of health care products and services. Items on contact with health care providers were reviewed for inclusion in HINTS.

• Other Sources. Other cancer resources such as the American Cancer Society (ACS) and C-Change (available at http://www.ndoc.org) were contacted to assess comparability of data collection efforts on cancer. Advice was also sought from content consultants such as Dr. Robert Hornik of the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication and Dr. Alex Rothman from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hornik advised NCI on issues related to health communication, including media exposure and incidental exposure to health information. Dr. Rothman lent expertise related to health cognition.

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