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This study compares cancer victims and cancer-free adults' use of communication channels for health information. It tests the complementarity theory (Dutta-Bergman, 2004a Dutta-Bergman, M. J. 2004a. Complementarity in consumption of news types across traditional and new media. Journal of Broadcasting complementarity between the interpersonal channel and mass media channels; and complementarity between the interpersonal channel and mass media channels after controlling for illness severity. This study provides strong support for complementarity theory, and extends the complementarity hypothesis into the realm of interpersonal channels of communication. Finally, this investigation suggests cancer victims use the media for health information differently than adults who have not been diagnosed with cancer.
Tian et al. (Thu,) studied this question.