Doctors report increase in misinformation from patients 

Doctors say they have been seeing more misinformation from patients in recent years, and the problem is getting worse, according to a new survey of physicians (Source: “Doctors report spike in misinformation from patients,” Chief Healthcare Executive, Sept. 2).
 
Nearly two out of three doctors say that misinformation is affecting their ability to deliver care to their patients, according to a survey released this week by The Physicians Foundation. The survey found 65% of providers say misinformation is impeding their work in caring for patients, up from 57% a year ago.
 
Almost half (49%) of doctors say patients aren’t following treatment plans due to misinformation, with 45% of doctors saying patients are outright refusing their recommendations.
 
Nearly one in three doctors (34%) says misinformation is leading to breakdowns in trust in their relationships with their patients, and 31% say they are often experiencing increased conflict with patients during visits because of misinformation.
 
The survey finds doctors in rural areas are most likely to encounter misinformation, with 78% of rural physicians saying they are seeing a higher frequency of patients influenced by misinformation, compared to 67% of urban doctors and 69% of suburban physicians.