Health information acquisition and lifestyle choices among cancer survivors in China: Examining the roles of patient-centered communication, patient trust, and system trust.

This study examines how different modes of health information acquisition—specifically seeking and scanning—relate to healthy lifestyle behaviors among cancer survivors in China, focusing on the mediating roles of patient-centered communication (PCC) and patient trust in physicians, as well as the moderating role of system trust in the healthcare system. Using a nationally representative sample (N = 567), results indicate that both health information seeking and scanning are positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption, with scanning also linked to increased physical activity. PCC and patient trust sequentially mediate these relationships, while system trust strengthens the association between health information seeking and PCC. The findings highlight the importance of patient-provider communication and trust within the Chinese healthcare context for promoting healthy behaviors among cancer survivors.