A new study from UF Health Cancer Center found that “93% of patients with a new cancer diagnosis were exposed to at least one type of misinformation about cancer treatments.”
Most patients “encountered the misinformation — defined as unproven or disproven cancer treatments and myths or misconceptions — even when they weren’t looking for it.” This means that doctors should assume that patients have seen or heard misinformation.
The study authors are now partnering with oncologists in piloting an “information prescription” meant to “steer patients to sources of evidence-based information like the American Cancer Society.” The study found that patients most commonly are exposed to misinformation second-hand from social media or friends and family.
Health misinformation can “prevent people from getting treatment that has evidence behind it, negatively affect relationships between patients and physicians, and increase the risk of death, research has shown. People with cancer are particularly vulnerable to misinformation because of the anxiety and fear that comes with a serious diagnosis, not to mention the overwhelming amount of new information they have to suddenly absorb.”
For the study, patients were asked a number of survey questions based on “five categories of unproven or disproven cancer treatments – vitamins and minerals, herbs and supplements, special diets, mind-body interventions, and miscellaneous treatments – and treatment misconceptions.” Most of the surveyed patients had “heard of a potential cancer treatment beyond the standard of care, and most reported they had heard of at least one myth or misconception. The most common sources were close friends or family and websites, distant friends/associates or relatives, social media and news media.”
