Frontiers in medicine · 2026
The hidden cost of health misinformation: distrust, treatment refusal, and the burden on healthcare professionals.
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Catalan-Matamoros Daniel, Moreno Mariola, Peñafiel-Saiz Carmen
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Health misinformation has become a persistent challenge in contemporary clinical practice, shaping patient beliefs, weakening trust in healthcare professionals, and contributing to the refusal of evidence-based treatments. In the context of the growing influence of digital platforms, frontline health professionals increasingly face consultations in which misinformation must be addressed alongside clinical care.
METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design based on semi-structured interviews was administered through an online open-ended questionnaire. Healthcare professionals working in Spain participated in the study. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns related to health misinformation, patient trust, treatment refusal, and professional communication strategies.
RESULTS: The analysis revealed five themes: (1) information sources and misinformation exposure, (2) erosion of trust and clinical friction, (3) patient refusal of evidence-based treatment, (4) the healthcare professional as a debunker, and (5) the need for media literacy and professional training. Participants consistently reported that patients rely heavily on social media, search engines, and non-expert sources, often arriving to consultations with pre-formed beliefs that contradict medical advice. They described misinformation as a source of distrust, emotional exhaustion, and poorer communication in the therapeutic relationship.
DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that misinformation is not merely an online phenomenon but a concrete clinical problem that directly affects trust, communication, and treatment adherence. Healthcare professionals perceive themselves as having an increasingly important educational role, yet many lack formal preparation to respond effectively to misinformation in practice. These results support the integration of health communication and media literacy into professional training.
METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design based on semi-structured interviews was administered through an online open-ended questionnaire. Healthcare professionals working in Spain participated in the study. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns related to health misinformation, patient trust, treatment refusal, and professional communication strategies.
RESULTS: The analysis revealed five themes: (1) information sources and misinformation exposure, (2) erosion of trust and clinical friction, (3) patient refusal of evidence-based treatment, (4) the healthcare professional as a debunker, and (5) the need for media literacy and professional training. Participants consistently reported that patients rely heavily on social media, search engines, and non-expert sources, often arriving to consultations with pre-formed beliefs that contradict medical advice. They described misinformation as a source of distrust, emotional exhaustion, and poorer communication in the therapeutic relationship.
DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that misinformation is not merely an online phenomenon but a concrete clinical problem that directly affects trust, communication, and treatment adherence. Healthcare professionals perceive themselves as having an increasingly important educational role, yet many lack formal preparation to respond effectively to misinformation in practice. These results support the integration of health communication and media literacy into professional training.