Social Media Use and Demographics Predicted Knowledge About Alcohol as a Cancer Risk Factor

Abstract

Purpose

To determine whether social media use, alcohol consumption, and sociodemographic factors predicted Americans’ knowledge about alcohol-related cancer risk.

Design

Health Information National Trends Survey (2020).

Setting

United States.

Subjects

A nationally representative sample (N = 3865; response rate = 36.7%).

Measures

Knowledge about cancer risk of beer, wine, and liquor; social media use; demographics; smoking status; alcohol consumption; and cancer history.

Analysis

Data were analyzed using multinomial multiple logistic regression with jackknife replicate weights.

Results

Less than a third of U.S. adults (20.34-31.20%) were aware of cancer risk of alcohol. People who watched health-related YouTube videos were more likely to be well-informed (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55 [95% confidence interval 1.01, 2.36] for beer) and misinformed (OR = 1.68 [1.17, 2.43] for wine). Alcohol consumption predicted higher likelihoods of being misinformed about cancer risk of beer (OR = 1.03 [1.003, 1.05]). People who were older and had less education were less likely to be well-informed for all types of alcohol. Females (for liquor) and Blacks (for beer) were less likely to be well-informed and misinformed.

Conclusion

Social media can be a source of both correct information and misinformation about alcohol and cancer risk. Health promotion should target older adults, people with less education, racial minorities, females, and people who consume alcohol.