The disparities in cancer outcomes could potentially be explained by the inequalities in the ways in which people seek out health information. The National Cancer Institute fielded the first Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) in 2002-2003 and a second survey in 2005, surveying approximately 6,369 Americans. Most respondents were white (75.9%), aged 40 or older (63%), and female (60.4%). Highlights of the 2003 HINTS results are below.

Seekers

Less than half of the HINTS respondents (45%) reported looking for cancer information, while almost one third of cancer patients reported that they did not seek out any cancer information. This non-seeking group is disproportionately composed of persons of low socioeconomic status and minorities.

Internet

HINTS data show that there are significant differences in access to the Internet between upper and lower SES groups and different racial and ethnic groups. Even though 63% of respondents said that they "go online," only 37% percent of Hispanics said they go online, compared to about 51% of African Americans, and almost 70% of non-Hispanic Whites. However, a substantial majority of individuals from lower-income and minority groups said they find the Internet to be useful and are interested in it.

The relationship between going online and SES (income and education) is monotonic. About 35% of respondents with an annual Household (HH) income of less than $25,000 reported going online, compared to 62% of those with an HH income between $25,000 and 50,000, and 87% of those with an HH income of more than $50,000. Similarly, just about one fourth of the respondents with less than a high school education reported going online, compared to 51% of high school graduates, 78% of those with some college education, and 90% of college graduates.