Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke: Implications for cessation interventions

Objective: To identify patterns of Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke. Methods: Baseline assessment data were collected from 2005 to 2008 for the Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2) study, a web-based smoking cessation intervention for childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Participants were surveyed about their Internet access and use. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial data also were collected. Results: Internet access and use was widespread among PFH-2 participants. However, older, less-educated, and female survivors reported less frequent Internet use, even when they had access to the Internet at home and/or at work. These associations were significant in multivariable analyses. Conclusions: Although the digital divide is narrowing, Internet use and engagement remains socially patterned. web-based prevention interventions are a promising method of reaching this geographically dispersed, high-risk population, but certain subgroups - particularly older and lower socioeconomic status survivors - might be missed by this approach.