Colorectal cancer patients universally owned smartphones and 66.7% used social media, but 64% required assistance to access Zoom, highlighting barriers to digital health engagement.
Smartphones are the primary device for CRC patients to access online materials, but reliance on social media or Zoom requires consideration of non-users and those needing technical assistance.
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Abstract Background: Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs impact participant engagement in genetics and genomics research. However, there is still room to better understand how information is disseminated within the community. The widespread use of smartphones has made health information more accessible, but understanding the devices and platforms used, as well as usage frequency is essential for effective health education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 57 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients aged 18+ recruited at two Los Angeles area hospitals. The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding cancer genetics/ genomic testing, as well as social media and technological device usage and preferences. Recruitment and survey administration were based on each participant’s preferred language. Results: The average age of participants was 53. 96 years (SD = 10. 38). Most, 66. 7%, reported using social media at varying frequencies, while 33. 3% reported never using social media. Among daily social media users, Facebook was the most popular platform (48. 7%), followed by WhatsApp (36. 8%), TikTok (35. 1%), and Instagram (24. 3%). Regarding access to technology, all participants reported owning a smartphone, while only 26% had access to a tablet and 22% had access to a laptop or desktop. Notably, 64% of participants reported needing assistance to access Zoom. The majority (63%) of participants were male, and 64. 9% reported an annual household income of less than 25, 000. Conclusion: These findings indicate that smartphones are the primary device utilized by study participants to access online educational materials and videos. Social media platforms could be effective to disseminate health education materials (as 66. 7% used it). However, relying solely on this would exclude the one in three participants who reported not using social media at all. While Zoom offers an alternative to overcome transportation and accessibility barriers, 64% of participants require assistance to use it, highlighting the need for dedicated support from research staff. Future research should explore how patients seek information through social media to develop effective health education materials. Citation Format: Itzya B. Ulloa, Daisy Hernandez, Charité N. Ricker, Elena Taylor, Rosa Barahona, Blanca Ovalle, Bo Y. Wang, Caryn Lerman, Julie O. Culver, Juan P. Lewinger, Mariana C. Stern, John D. Carpten, Heinz Josef Lenz, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati. Social media and technology preferences among colorectal cancer patients abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts) ; 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86 (7 Suppl): Abstract nr 6350.
Ulloa et al. (Fri,) reported a other. Colorectal cancer patients universally owned smartphones and 66.7% used social media, but 64% required assistance to access Zoom, highlighting barriers to digital health engagement.