Healthcare practitioners face challenges combating health misinformation as patients increasingly rely on the internet for medical advice. Trust and communication are key.
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In 2021, the American Health Information Management Association Foundation surveyed 1,059 U.S. residents age 18 or older in a nationally representative sample. The survey found that Americans typically seek out health information by contacting their doctor and the internet equally. Of those who secure health information from the internet, 86 percent are confident the information is credible.
This can sometimes be a challenge for healthcare practitioners, because health misinformation—information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time—is abundant on the internet. Health misinformation is a significant obstacle in healthcare, as it can lead to misunderstandings, poor health decisions, and adverse outcomes for patients. In a recent survey of physicians by The Doctors Company, 64 percent of physicians named misinformation on social media one of the most challenging aspects of practicing medicine.
Patients’ engagement in their personal health can be an advantage, with the proper guidance and support from practitioners. However, when patients consult “Dr. Google,” some websites may provide inaccurate or misleading content.
This issue of accurate versus inaccurate online medical information was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory Confronting Health Misinformation focused on this serious threat to public health and called on all of us to limit the spread.
Correcting misinformation requires time and effort: Practitioners are encountering longer visit times when there is a need to discuss internet-collected health information with patients. Patients can sometimes have a strong belief in and be adamant about the assembled misinformation, which can result in increased patient anxiety.
Practitioners who dismiss or criticize the online search efforts of patients may negatively impact practitioner-patient trust. It can also be a challenge to change patient perspectives when misinformation is deeply believed, even when the practitioner is providing information from a trusted source.
Former American Medical Association (AMA) president Gerald E. Harmon, MD, noted in a 2022 press release regarding a new AMA policy addressing public health disinformation that “physicians have an ethical and professional responsibility to share truthful information, correct misleading and inaccurate information, and direct people to reliable sources of health information.”
It’s often said that trust is the medical currency of healthcare, and in partnering with patients to help them understand medicine, practitioners are making deposits. Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN, explained to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) her view that overcoming medical misinformation is a journey on which to partner with the patient, first understanding why patients turn to the sources they do for medical guidance.The AANP offers an infographic tool, A Clinician’s Guide to Medical Misinformation: Communication Is Key, to support clinicians in combating medical misinformation.
Patient Safety Strategies
Engaging with patients who are relying on health misinformation requires a thoughtful approach to ensure patient safety, retain trust, and promote health literacy. Here are some strategies practitioners can use:
Through these strategies, practitioners can effectively combat health misinformation and empower patients to make informed health decisions.
These are reputable websites, known for their accuracy, credibility, and comprehensive coverage of health topics, where patients can find reliable health information:
For guidance and assistance in addressing any patient safety or risk management concerns, contact Patient Safety and Risk Management at (800) 421-2368 or by email.
The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
Lisa M. McCorkle, MSN, MBA, RN, Senior Patient Safety Risk Manager, The Doctors Company