Physicians say medical misinformation is getting worse — but they’re not blaming AI chatbots for it. That’s the takeaway from a new survey covered by Healthtech Analytics’ Sara Heath: 31% of doctors now say patients are influenced by misinformation “a great deal,” up from 24% just a year ago, according to the Physicians Foundation’s 2026 survey.
Old-fashioned channels still dominate
Social media remains the biggest culprit, cited by 85% of physicians, followed closely by word-of-mouth and social media influencers, each named by 74%. AI chatbots, meanwhile, were pinned as the top misinformation source by just 3% of respondents — a reminder that generative AI’s reputational baggage hasn’t yet translated into doctors’ offices.
The consequences are tangible: two-thirds of physicians say misinformation is hurting care quality, 65% report rising patient anxiety, and over a third say it’s eroded patient trust outright. Adding to physicians’ frustration, 28% say government health agencies “very often” spread misinformation themselves, with another 39% saying they do so “sometimes.” Nearly all doctors feel equipped to correct the record — they just don’t have the appointment time to do it.
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