According to a study by The Physicians Foundation, medical misinformation and disinformation increasingly threaten patient care, particularly in rural America. An overwhelming 86% of physicians reported a rise in misinformation and disinformation over the last five years, impacting their ability to provide quality care. The study noted that rural doctors specifically encounter higher levels of misleading information from patients and express significant concern about patients’ ability to access credible health information online.
Despite low confidence in patients’ skills, 97% of physicians feel confident in their ability to identify and address such misinformation when patients bring it up. However, there’s a troubling disconnect: while physicians believe they can effectively tackle these issues, the overall erosion of trust in the medical profession suggests that many patients have doubts.
Gary Price, MD, emphasized the need for the medical community to better understand how patients obtain their information and adjust their communication strategies accordingly. The study advocates for a proactive approach to countering misinformation and rebuilding patient trust in healthcare.
