Misinformation, Disinformation Threaten Clinician-Patient Relationship and Quality of Care

Nearly 9 in 10 physicians (86%) believe the incidence of medical misinformation and disinformation has increased compared with 5 years ago, and half (50%) say this is a significant increase. More than 6 in 10 (61%) report that their patients had been influenced by misinformation or disinformation at least a moderate amount during the past year. Rural communities appear to be most influenced.

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For many physicians, navigating clinical encounters now involves addressing not only medical conditions but also the influence of misinformation and disinformation that patients bring with them. A new national survey of more than 1000 US physicians by The Physicians Foundation underscores the scope of this challenge, highlighting how false or misleading health information is shaping patient expectations and affecting care delivery across practice settings.

For survey respondents, “misinformation” was defined as “false or inaccurate information” and “disinformation” as “false or inaccurate information deliberately intended to mislead.” Spreading of false data and information is as ancient as rumors that travel by word of mouth and as nefarious as propaganda in print, the survey authors point out. What has changed, they argue, is speed and scale. "Digital platforms amplify inaccuracies faster and farther...making them harder to recognize and counter."

Clinical encounters that require fielding misinformed comments or questions can strain the physician–patient relationship. “As misinformation and disinformation continue to rise, it becomes increasingly challenging for physicians to provide effective, trusted care,” Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation, said in a statement. More than half of respondents (57%) to the Foundation's survey agreed, saying misinformation and disinformation significantly impact the ability to provide quality care.

“Misinformation” was defined as “false or inaccurate information” and “disinformation” as “false or inaccurate information deliberately intended to mislead.”

“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," Price added.

Rural Areas Hit Harder

The survey found that rural physicians, in particular, confront misinformation at higher rates. Thirty-eight percent of rural physicians said they encountered “a great deal” of misinformation or disinformation from their patients, compared with 25% of urban physicians and 21% of suburban physicians. Rural physicians also expressed greater concern about their patients’ ability to find reliable health information online. More than half (54%) reported being “not at all confident” in their patients’ ability to access evidence-based information, versus 41% of urban physicians and 37% of suburban physicians.

Despite the persistent intrusion of misleading and inaccurate on clinical discourse, a larger proportion of physicians expressed more confidence in their ability to respond within the exam room. Half (50%) said they were highly confident they could identify and correct misinformation or disinformation when it came up in conversation, while another 47% described themselves as somewhat or fairly confident. Only 10% said they lacked the tools or support needed to engage with skeptical patients.

"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,” Price said.

Taken together, the survey points to a widening gap between the trusted information physicians provide and the health narratives patients may encounter online and through other channels. At the same time that many clinicians feel prepared to address misinformation during clinical conversations, they are concerned about their patients’ ability to evaluate information outside the exam room.

The Physician Foundation stated that meeting this challenge requires more than individual clinician effort. Broader initiatives to equip physicians with resources, empower patients to discern credible health information, and strengthen the physician–patient relationship will be critical to sustaining quality care in an environment where falsehoods have become rampant.

Source: The effect of misinformation and disinformation on physician's ability to provide quality care. The Physician's Foundation. August 20, 2025. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://physiciansfoundation.org/research/the-effect-of-misinformation-and-disinformation-on-physicians-ability-to-provide-quality-care/