With the advent of the internet and ever-increasing social media platforms for people to connect through, more than ever before, we have copious amounts of information right at our fingertips. As a result, the exposure to medical misinformation—sought out or inadvertent—is likely to reach most people. According to 2009 data by Pew Research, 74% of American adults go online, with 61% looking for health information via the internet. (1) This research also shows that 68% of Americans report asking a friend or a family for health information. In addition, the vast majority (86%) also report asking a health care professional, such as a doctor, for information. With exposure to so much information, we all have the potential to spread misinformation. We are not alone, there have even been reported instances of doctors falling victim to the effects of misinformation! (2)
Although risk factors may vary, one study shows that there are three factors that contribute to the acceptance of health misinformation: health-related anxiety, pre-existing misinformation beliefs, and repeated exposure to the misinformation. (3) The infographic below also describes three factors that contribute to people’s tendency to believe false information.
Resources
- Pew Research. (2009, June 11). Use of the internet for health information: United States, 2009. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db66.pdf
- Rubin, R. (2022). When physicians spread unscientific information about covid-19. JAMA, 327(10), 904. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.1083
- Pan, W., Liu, D., & Fang, J. (2021). An examination of factors contributing to the acceptance of online health misinformation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630268
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