Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have received a five-year, $3.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study medical misinformation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public distrust in science and medicine grew.
The hyper-politicized environment, evolving health guidelines as scientists learned more and disagreements about trustworthy sources for health information only intensified the spread of misinformation. While many physicians discuss medical misinformation with their patients during clinical visits, there's little known research on the factors that assist or impede these conversations. Health care providers play a crucial role in mitigating misinformation.
However, we need a better understanding of why physicians may choose not to confront patient misinformation." Zubin Master, Ph.D.
, associate professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and study's principal investigator Master said that older patients are also disproportionately affected by health misinformation, which can hurt informed decision-making and health outcomes. For the study, the research team will conduct 100 interviews and survey a national sample of 1,400 physicians to evaluate attitudes about confronting medical misinformation surrounding two topics known to have rampant misinformation: COVID-19 vaccinations and unproven stem-cell therapies. Related Stories COVID-19 causes l.