Nearly 3 in 4 physicians reported medical misinformation has hindered their ability to treat COVID-19 patients and has harmed patient outcomes, according to a poll published by the de Beaumont Foundation on March 29 and conducted by technology company Morning Consult.
The poll connected with 806 physicians and 2,210 adults online in December and found that 44 percent of physicians estimate that more than half of the COVID-19 information coming from patients is misinformation.
Fifty-one percent of physicians reported misinformation spread by physicians as a problem and 77 percent said physicians should be disciplined by medical boards for sharing misinformation. In addition, 65 percent of physicians were in support of passing laws to hold physicians accountable.
Meanwhile, 68 percent of physicians said patient trust has decreased over the past two years. However, only 21 percent of the members of the public surveyed said their trust in physicians has decreased, with 75 percent saying their trust increased or stayed the same.
The poll also found that medical misinformation persists outside of COVID-19, with more than two-thirds of physicians reporting misinformation as a problem in the areas of mental health, weight loss, dietary supplements and other vaccines.