Material
Survey
The Effect of Misinformation and Disinformation on Physicians’ Ability to Provide Quality Care
Misinformation and disinformation in healthcare has the potential to threaten patient safety by spreading falsehoods that impact decision-making. It also undermines the physician-patient relationship, making it harder for physicians to provide effective, trusted care.
The Physicians Foundation’s recent survey of 1,000+ American physicians analyzes the impact of health misinformation and disinformation on physicians and patient care.
Misinformation Versus disinformation
What’s the difference?
Misinformation: false or inaccurate information
Disinformation: false or inaccurate information deliberately intended to mislead
Health misinformation and disinformation is widespread—and on the rise.
- More than 6 in 10 (61%) physicians reported their patients were influenced by misinformation and/or disinformation at least a moderate amount over the past year.
Closer Look: Rural Health
Rural physicians appear to experience a higher frequency of patients influenced by misinformation and/or disinformation.
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38% of rural physicians reported encountering “a great deal” of misinformation and/or disinformation from their patients vs 21% of suburban physicians and 25% of urban physicians.
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Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) physicians feel that the incidence of medical misinformation and/or disinformation has increased compared to 5 years ago.
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50% of physicians reported a significant increase.
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Almost all physicians agree: misinformation and/or disinformation undermines patient care.
- More than half (57%) of physicians feel misinformation and/or disinformation has a significant impact on their ability to deliver quality patient care.
A majority of physicians feel equipped to address the misinformation and/or disinformation that patients bring to their appointments.
50%
50% of physicians expressed high confidence in being able to identify and correct the misinformation and/or disinformation that patients bring to their appointments
47%
47% feel somewhat/fairly confident in being able to identify and correct the misinformation and/or disinformation that patients bring to their appointments
10%
Only 10% of physicians feel that they do not have the necessary tools and support to engage with patients who are skeptical about modern medicine or science
However, outside of those appointments, many physicians are skeptical of their patients’ ability to access accurate health information.
- 40% of physicians feel not at all confident that their patients know how to access reliable, evidence-based health information online
Closer Look: Rural Health
Rural physicians were more likely to report no confidence in their patients knowing how to access evidence-based health information online.
- More than half (54%) of rural physicians reported they were “not at all confident” vs 37% of suburban physicians and 41% of urban physicians.
