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Online Medical Misinformation in Cancer: Distinguishing Fact From Fiction.

Author
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.

Year of Publication
:
2022
Journal
:
JCO oncology practice
Volume
:
18
Issue
:
8
Number of Pages
:
584-589
ISSN Number
:
2688-1527
URL
:
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.21.00764?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed
DOI
:
10.1200/OP.21.00764
Short Title
:
JCO Oncol Pract
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