New data shows the need to counteract misinformation and disinformation to help ensure quality care, especially in rural communities

BOSTON, August 20, 2025 — Today, The Physicians Foundation released a new survey of America’s physicians revealing a growing prevalence of health misinformation and disinformation across the United States, especially in rural communities. The 2025 Survey of America’s Physicians underscores the urgent need to curb false and misleading health content that puts individuals at risk and erodes the trust that underpins the physician–patient relationship.

In the survey, “misinformation” was defined as “false or inaccurate information” and “disinformation” as “false or inaccurate information deliberately intended to mislead.” Misinformation and disinformation aren’t new—they’ve existed for as long as people have shared stories and ideas, from rumors spread by word of mouth to propaganda in print. What’s changed is the speed and scale: today’s digital platforms amplify inaccuracies faster and farther than ever before, making them harder to recognize and counter. Within healthcare, misinformation and disinformation have the potential to undermine decision-making, delaying care and impeding the physician-patient relationship.

In fact, the Foundation’s latest survey found the following:

• Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) physicians believe that the incidence of medical misinformation and/or disinformation has increased compared to five years ago, with half reporting a significant rise.
• More than half (57%) report that misinformation and/or disinformation has had a significant impact on their ability to deliver quality patient care.
• More than 6 in 10 (61%) physicians report that their patients were influenced by misinformation and/or disinformation at least a moderate amount over the past year.
• 38% of rural physicians reported encountering “a great deal” of misinformation and/or disinformation among their patients, compared to 25% of urban physicians and 21% of suburban physicians.

“As misinformation and disinformation continue to rise, it becomes increasingly challenging for physicians to provide effective, trusted care.” said Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation. “It’s incumbent on physicians to have open conversations with their patients—not only to understand the health inaccuracies they encounter, but also to foster a relationship built on trust and support. As the health care system continues to evolve, decisive action is essential to protect patient outcomes, reduce avoidable burdens on physicians and ensure that accurate, trusted medical information guides care decisions.”

While most physicians feel confident in their ability to identify and address misinformation and/or disinformation during appointments, many worry about their patients’ ability to access reliable health information outside the clinical setting. Forty percent of physicians expressed no confidence that their patients know how to find evidence-based health information online—a concern especially acute among rural providers.

The Physicians Foundation urges continued efforts to empower both physicians and patients with tools and resources to navigate this evolving landscape, reinforcing the value of trust and communication in healthcare. For more information about The Physicians Foundation and its research, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.

About The Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation is a public charity seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and improve patient access to high-quality, cost-efficient care. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education and innovative grant making that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org

About The Physicians Foundation’s 2025 Survey of America’s Physicians on Misinformation and Disinformation

Each year, The Physicians Foundation assesses physician sentiment surrounding the practice environment and patient care to better understand where things stand and drive change to enhance physician practice and improve patient health outcomes. In 2025, the Foundation conducted an online survey among U.S. physicians on the topic of misinformation and disinformation, who were derived from Medscape’s proprietary database. The survey was fielded from May 21-May 29, 2025. In the survey, “misinformation” was defined as “false or inaccurate information” and “disinformation” as “false or inaccurate information deliberately intended to mislead.”