The impact of misinformation on patient perceptions at a men's health clinic: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Misinformation is a rising concern for providers and patients alike. We aimed to assess where patients acquire information prior to their andrological urologic appointment and assess patients' perception regarding the reliability of this information. A cross-sectional study was conducted at an outpatient men's health clinic between June and August of 2022 with questionnaires distributed to adult males seen for their primary visit. The study included 314 consenting adult patients who independently completed the questionnaire (mean age: 51.2 ± 17.2). Overall, 55.1% of patients indicated they searched for their condition online. However, 39.2% and 27.7% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed, respectively, that misinformation is a concern when searching for health information. Only 59.9% of patients discussed their concerns with others and those that did not chose not wanting to (65.1%) as their top choice. However, 27.4% of respondents were embarrassed to do so. Finally, 38.2% and 12.4% of patients agreed and strongly agreed, that learning information prior to your appointment affects their relationship with the physician. These findings emphasize the need for urologists to be aware of where their patients are gathering health information and to address concerns regarding misinformation.