Medical Misinformation and Healthy Information Environment: A Call to Action

Abstract

Medical misinformation existed even before the digital era. However, with the surge in Internet use, misinformation spreads faster to a broader audience. Easy access to misinformation and the lack of trustworthy resources increase people’s vulnerability to misinformation. As a result, medical misinformation became a global public health threat. The US Surgeon General’s call to create a “healthy information environment” highlights the responsibility to address health-related misinformation and minimize its impact on health care outcomes.