Theoretical Framework

Appendix K: Theoretical Framework

Stage 1: Build Awareness

• Formal So urces
(e.g., family doctor)

“Awareness”
Communication

• Informal Sources
(e.g., friends and
relatives)

• Commercial Sources
(e.g.,TV, newspapers)

Str uctural Characteristics 4

Person Characteristics

Stage 2: Support Information Seeking
Desire to Change
(Intention)

Cancer knowledge
• Personal ris k
• Preventabili ty
• Relative prevalence
• Desir e to change/barriers to change
• Myths and misin formation
• Specific cancer knowledge
Attit udes toward
• Channel (channel attributes)
• Personal ability (self-efficacy)
• Prevention/treatment (response-efficacy)
• Sources (comparative preference)
Personal characteristic s
• Age
• Gender
• SES
• Famil y history
• Education
• Cult ural background
• Language(s) spoken
• Environmental exposure
• General health
• Dir ect experience with cancer
• Motivation to change

Health
Behaviors
Barriers

Channel Characteristics
Perceived
Information
Need?

Seek Information

Select Channel for
Obtain ing Information

Chann el attrib utes (affordances) 3
• Accessibili ty
• Availa bility (e.g., 7 X 24)
• Bandwidth
• Responsivity
• Directionali ty

New Knowledge,
Attitudes, and Beliefs

Factors in fluencing choic e
• Anonymity
• Interactivity
• Timeliness
• Clarity
• Credibili ty
• Content
• Cost

HINTS Framework. Derived from extant theory in cancer communication and the behavioral
sciences, the HINTS framework served as a guide to item development.