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Online Medical Misinformation in Cancer: Distinguishing Fact From Fiction

Online Medical Misinformation in Cancer: Distinguishing Fact From Fiction

Authors :
Teplinsky, Eleonora
Ponce, Sara Beltrán
Drake, Emily K.
Garcia, Anna Meredith
Loeb, Stacy
van Londen, G.J.
Teoh, Deanna
Thompson, Michael
Schapira, Lidia
Source :
JCO Oncology Practice; 20220101, Issue: Preprints
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

It is without question that the Internet has democratized access to medical information, with estimates that 70% of the American population use it as a resource, particularly for cancer-related information. Such unfettered access to information has led to an increase in health misinformation. Fortunately, the data indicate that health care professionals remain among the most trusted information resources. Therefore, understanding how the Internet has changed engagement with health information and facilitated the spread of misinformation is an important task and challenge for cancer clinicians. In this review, we perform a meta-synthesis of qualitative data and point toward empirical evidence that characterizes misinformation in medicine, specifically in oncology. We present this as a call to action for all clinicians to become more active in ongoing efforts to combat misinformation in oncology.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26881527 and 26881535
Issue :
Preprints
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
JCO Oncology Practice
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs59609166
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.21.00764