The social reinforcement of false medical information has occurred in one form or another since ancient times. Technology, including a vast network of medical resources on the Internet, is contributing to a new level of biased information. Since the media, social networks, and the internet are the only exposure many people have to health information, important misconceptions that are disseminated could hinder effective decision-making among people seeking care.

The misinformation that is reaching the public, especially through social media, varies from subtle misreporting on online articles to the emphasis of new medical findings that lack evidence from mainstream news sources. Various media may strive to release simplified, attention-grabbing information with less attention to the scientific process that builds a reliable body of evidence. This has become evident through the ongoing “anti-vaccination” movement that relies on celebrity endorsement and publications with falsified data. In an effort to earn “likes,” generate revenue, or promote expensive, unproved treatments, certain media outlets have pushed an agenda that targets to devalue evidence-based medicine.

Unreliable treatments and false hope have contributed to a lack of trust in medical professionals and the healthcare system, which is usually evident through online review sites. Many physicians now find themselves spending a lot of time gently correcting erroneous beliefs about disease and treatment from misinformed patients during appointments.  Professionals with medical expertise should aim to give unbiased, trustworthy advice to patients and provide resources for credible research.

Our research on the social reinforcement of misconceptions is focusing on several areas:

1. We are reviewing media coverage of musculoskeletal problems in prominent athletes and identifying substantial misinformation.
2. Using Google Ngram to identify words representing specific concepts that wax and wane in popularity in our society.
3. We are studying media coverage in medicine to determine the degree to which “sound bites” possibly introduce inaccuracies that foster misconceptions.