Docs are seeing more patients influenced by mis- and disinformation. What can they do about it?
More docs surveyed in March said their patients were influenced by inaccurate info than in 2025, and that it is affecting their care.
A recent survey reveals that a majority of doctors have witnessed patients influenced by misinformation or disinformation during their clinical interactions. The Physicians Foundation's March survey of over 1,000 physicians found that 70% of respondents encountered patients affected by misinformation, up from 61% in 2025. This growing prevalence of misinformation in patient care poses a significant threat to health outcomes, according to Gary Price, M.D., president of the Physicians Foundation.
Misinformation complicates physicians' ability to deliver quality care, with two-thirds of doctors reporting it impacts their ability to provide effective treatment. Moreover, 43% lack confidence in their patients' ability to access reliable health information online. Inaccurate information also alters patient behavior, with half of the doctors frequently witnessing treatment nonadherence and a third reporting breakdowns in patient-physician trust.
The most common sources of misinformation cited by doctors are social media, word of mouth, and influencers, followed by the news media, search engines, and commercial ads. Artificial intelligence chatbots were less dominant, with a third of respondents identifying them as a common source. Government health agencies were less frequently mentioned as sources.
Price suggests that physicians should adapt their communication strategies in the age of social media. Building a credible online presence as a medical influencer could help establish trust, while focusing on establishing a trusted relationship with patients and respecting their concerns remains crucial. Emphasizing what is known to be true rather than what is false in medical messaging is essential.
Social media's role in spreading falsehoods is significant, as easy access to echo chambers and the prevalence of AI tools for health information increase the likelihood of patients believing false claims. Unregulated supplement advertisements may further exacerbate the issue. Physicians' confidence in identifying and correcting inaccuracies in appointments has slightly decreased, while confidence in engaging with skeptical patients has dropped.
Time constraints and resource limitations are also factors hindering physicians' ability to address misinformation effectively.
Despite these challenges, Price emphasizes the importance of physicians' sense of agency in combating misinformation. While overall confidence in addressing inaccuracies remains somewhat strong, the current immunization rates, with a 4% jump in exemptions for kindergarteners' routine vaccinations, indicate a concerning level of misinformation's impact on public health.
Written by urgent.news from Fierce Healthcare's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
