JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

A potential genetic predisposition to cancer can be associated with a high degree of fear and uncertainty. Beyond the individual’s knowledge about his/her genetic predisposition through genetic testing, a profound information base about the general risks and treatment options can help reduce cancer-related uncertainties. Although there is a lot of cancer information available, not all social groups are equally well reached because information needs and communicative accessibility differ. Previous research has shown that a live chat service provided by health professionals could be an appropriate, low-threshold format to meet individual information needs on sensitive health topics such as familial cancer risk. An established German Cancer Information Service is currently developing such a live chat service. As it is only worthwhile if accepted by the target groups, formative evaluation is essential in the course of the chat’s development and implementation.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the acceptance of a live chat on familial cancer risk by cancer patients and their relatives (RQ1) and examine the explanatory power of predictors of their intentions to use such a service (RQ2). Guided by the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), we examined the explanatory power of the following UTAUT2 predictors: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and habit, supplemented by perceived information insufficiency, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and an own cancer diagnosis as additional factors related to information seeking about familial cancer.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey via a German online access panel in March 2022 that was stratified by age, gender, and education (N = 1,084). The participants are or have been diagnosed with cancer themselves (n = 144) and/or have relatives who are or have been affected (n = 990). All constructs were measured with established scales. To answer RQ1, descriptive data (mean value, distribution) were used. For RQ2, a blockwise multiple linear regression analysis was conducted.

Results:

Overall, 32.7% of participants were (rather) willing, 28.9% were undecided, and 38.4% were (rather) not willing to use a live chat on familial cancer risk in the future. A multiple linear regression analysis explained 47.0% of the variance. It revealed that performance expectancy, social influence, habit, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity were positively associated with the intention to use a live chat on familial cancer risk. Effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, information insufficiency, and own cancer diagnosis were not related to usage intentions.

Conclusions:

A live chat seems promising for providing information on familial cancer risk. When promoting the service, the personal benefits should be addressed in particular. UTAUT2 is an effective theoretical framework for explaining live chat usage intentions and does not need to be extended in the context of familial cancer risk.