Understanding how doctors can help patients avoid false health information

Identifying salient factors that influence physician practices in mitigating patient misinformation

['FUNDING_R01'] · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11117089

This study looks at how doctors can help older adults who might believe in health misinformation by understanding what makes doctors comfortable talking about it and finding better ways for them to share accurate health information.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded)
Locations1 site (WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11117089 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how physicians can effectively address and correct health misinformation, particularly among older adults who are more vulnerable to believing false information. It employs a mixed-methods approach to explore the factors that influence physicians' willingness to engage with patients on this issue, including their personal beliefs, communication skills, and the challenges they face in practice. By identifying these factors, the research aims to develop better strategies for physicians to communicate accurate health information to their patients, ultimately improving health outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 65 and older who may be affected by health misinformation.

Not a fit: Patients under the age of 65 or those who do not engage with healthcare providers may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower physicians to more effectively combat health misinformation, leading to better health decisions and outcomes for patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of engaging physicians to correct misinformation is promising, there is limited empirical data on its effectiveness, making this research relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.