New National Survey Finds Health Misinformation Is Increasingly Interfering With Patient Care

New findings show misinformation is increasingly disrupting care and straining patient-physician trust.

BOSTON, August 31, 2026 — Today, The Physicians Foundation announced findings from its 2026 Survey of America’s Physicians: Misinformation and the Erosion of Trust in American Health Care, examining how health misinformation is affecting patient decisions, the patient-physician relationship and physicians’ ability to provide care.

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information. Misinformation can shape how people understand health issues, evaluate medical guidance, or make decisions about their care.

The survey of more than 1,000 U.S. physicians, conducted in collaboration with Medscape, finds that misinformation has become a routine part of medical care—and physicians say its impact is growing. Nearly every physician surveyed encountered patients influenced by misinformation or disinformation in the past year, and seven in ten (69%) say they encounter it a moderate amount to a great deal of the time, up from 61% in 2025.

The findings come at a time when physicians are navigating growing pressures on the time they have with patients. Consolidation of health care, productivity expectations, administrative demands and other pressures across the health care system can constrain opportunities for meaningful patient-physician conversations. Misinformation adds another challenge: physicians increasingly must spend limited time addressing inaccurate or conflicting health information before they can move forward with decisions about care.

What patients hear and believe outside the exam room is increasingly carried into their care. Physicians report seeing misinformation contribute to anxiety, treatment refusal and nonadherence, while also making conversations with patients more difficult and straining trust.

Key findings include:

• Nearly two-thirds of physicians (65%) say medical misinformation significantly impacts their ability to provide quality patient care, up from 57% in 2025.
• Nearly half of physicians (49%) frequently experience medication or treatment nonadherence due to misinformation, while 45% frequently see patients refuse recommended treatment or care.
• Two-thirds of physicians (66%) say misinformation frequently contributes to increased anxiety among patients.
• One in three physicians (34%) report that misinformation frequently contributes to a breakdown of trust between physicians and patients.

“Misinformation is no longer simply shaping what patients believe about their health. It is influencing the decisions they make about their care and challenging the trust at the center of the patient-physician relationship,” said Dr. Gary Price, President of The Physicians Foundation. “Physicians are increasingly being asked to help patients sort through conflicting health information. They need the time and resources to have those conversations effectively.”

These findings show that misinformation is affecting both patient decisions and the care physicians are able to provide. Ensuring patients have better access to trusted health information and giving physicians the time and resources to address misinformation when it comes up is essential to protecting trust and supporting quality care.

Read the full survey results and methodology here.

About The Survey of America’s Physicians

The Survey of America’s Physicians, conducted annually by The Physicians Foundation in collaboration with Medscape, captures the perspectives of more than 1,000 practicing physicians nationwide on the issues shaping the practice of medicine and patient care. By tracking physician experiences and sentiment over time, the survey provides insight into the evolving health care landscape and identifies opportunities to strengthen physician practice and improve patient health outcomes.

About The Physicians Foundation 

The Physicians Foundation is a public charity seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education and innovative grant making that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org.

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