Protecting Patient Autonomy from Medical Misinformation: A Pilot Project to Train Providers to Effectively Engage with Patients Who Endorse Medical Misinformation about Cancer Care
Thursday, October 12, 2023
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Location: Heron (Fourth Floor)
Medical misinformation about cancer care causes delays in treatment, forgoing of treatment, economic harms, potentially toxic effects, and harmful medical interactions with standard curative treatments. Moreover, medical misinformation stresses therapeutic relationships and undermines patient autonomy since patients often make care decisions that they otherwise would not have made. Previous literature has examined patients’ traits and beliefs. However, effectively caring for patients with cancer who endorse medical misinformation also requires better understanding the experiences, competencies, and concerns of the clinicians who treat them. We conducted an IRB approved study of physicians and advanced practice providers at a large cancer center. ~50% feel inadequately trained to successfully address misinformed patients. In response to our findings, we developed (as far as we know) the first pilot conversation guide and training to improve provider skills and confidence in addressing medical misinformation in clinical encounters. We partnered with clinicians in integrative oncology and gynecologic oncology to develop the conversation guide. The techniques, strategies, and model dialogue in the guide are adapted from best practices developed for addressing vaccine hesitancy. We present and discuss the responses from the post training surveys and suggest what to highlight in patient-provider conversations about medical misinformation. Given the prevalence of medical misinformation generally, health care institutions should develop training and resources to help clinicians effectively address the growing number of patients who endorse misinformation about their care. Our long-term goal is to turn our conversation guide and training into a replicable model available for widespread use.
Colleen Gallagher – Integrated Ethics – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center