Home: HINTS Resources and Materials

In this section:

• Books & Reports: HINTS-focused publications include both resources designed to support analysis of HINTS data as well as findings from analysis of HINTS data
• Briefs: 2-page high level summaries of published articles that analyze HINTS data
• HINTS Overview Materials: provides information about the program’s origin, mission, and progress

Books & Reports

Journal of Health Communication Special Issue
Order the HINTS Special Supplement to HINTS Research from the Baseline

Analytic Methods to Examine Changes Across Years Using HINTS 2003 & 2005 Data
A handbook that provides instructions on how to combine the data files, includes sample SAS/SUDAAN and STATA code for carrying out the procedures
View accessible version | Order Copies

Cancer Communication Health Information National Trends Survey 2003 and 2005
Offers a snapshot at two different points in time of how the American public (18 years and older) is responding to changes in the health information environment, as well as a suggestive look at how the public responds within that environment to questions about cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
Order Copies

Briefs

Brief 11: Knowledge of Tobacco-Related Cancers: Understanding the association of tobacco consumption and perceived cancer risk
Over the past several decades, significant progress has been made in reducing overall smoking rates and tobacco-related diseases. Despite these successes, there remain demographic and geographic disparities in smoking prevalence, tobacco-related health outcomes, and knowledge about lung cancer risk factors and mortality. Oct 2008
PDF (101 KB)

Brief 10: Information Support for Cancer Survivors: Cancer information seeking behaviors
Many people who have been touched by cancer actively use available resources (e.g., the Internet, health care providers, newspapers, brochures, and magazines) to seek information about the disease. Jun 2008
PDF (129 KB)

Brief 9: Confusion about Cancer Prevention: Association with behavior
Because many cancers can be prevented through individual action and lifestyle (e.g., not smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and wearing sunscreen), public understanding of cancer prevention is critical to cancer control. Jan 2008
PDF (103 KB)

Brief 8: On-line Communication with Health Care Providers: eHealth behaviors and trends
An emerging concept known as "eHealth" seeks to capitalize on the promise of new media technologies to facilitate equal access to timely and credible health information. Nov 2007
PDF (121KB)

Brief 7: Health Communication: Considerations to developing effective health communication strategies
Effective health communication strategies are increasingly recognized as integral to improving population health. Aug 2007
PDF (79 KB)

Brief 6: Sun Safety: Perceptions and awareness
Only a minority of Americans regularly practice sun safety. May 2007
PDF (184 KB)

Brief 5: Knowledge and Awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
In 2005, 61 Percent of American Women Had Never Heard of HPV. Mar 2007
PDF (95 KB)

Brief 4: Physical Activity: Cancer Risk Perceptions and Group Differences in Behavior
The majority of Americans believe that physical activity plays a role in preventing cancer. Dec 2006
PDF (128 KB)

Brief 3: Cancer Screening: Breast, cervix, and colorectal
Most Americans Are Aware of Cancer Screening Tests. Knowing age and frequency recommendations remains a challenge. Aug 2006
PDF (62 KB)

Brief 2: Cancer Knowledge: Understanding cancer risk and reducing cancer risk
More than 64% of Americans believe that lifestyle and behavior influence cancer risk. Mar 2006
PDF (120 KB)

Brief 1: Cancer Information Seeking Behaviors
Almost half of all Americans have sought out information on the disease and its causes, prevention, and treatment. Dec 2005
PDF (68 KB)

HINTS Overview Materials

HINTS Health Information National Trends Survey Brochure
Summary brochure describing the survey, its respondents, how the data can be used, and how HINTS helps researchers, planners, and the American public.
PDF (380 KB)

NCI Cancer Bulletin: Health Information National Trends Survey Web Site Unveiled
At this time last year, we made public our dataset from the first-ever survey to collect nationally representative information on the American public's need for, access to, and use of cancer information. Since then, more than 100 researchers have delved into the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to analyze how people use mass media, new media such as the Internet, and personal channels for health information purposes, and how the use of those communication channels may impact their knowledge and acceptance of healthy living guidelines. Read More.

HINTS Fact sheet (updated 7/10/08) PDF