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Doctors in Spain are warning that medical misinformation is becoming a serious problem in GP surgeries, where practitioners are spending increasing amounts of time tackling false beliefs instead of focusing on treating patients.

 

This growing issue was highlighted by the Spanish Society of General and Family Medicine (SEMG) at the close of its 31st National Congress, held in Gran Canaria. The organisation described denialism – including anti-vaccine rhetoric, COVID denial and the promotion of pseudo-therapies – as “a constant in the consultation room”.

 

It is becoming more and more common and is having a real impact both on patients’ health and trust in the healthcare system. According to SEMG, this kind of misinformation is not new, but its impact is becoming more severe.

 

“It has always been part of the job to correct false beliefs, but now we are seeing more people come in with ideas that go directly against scientific evidence,” said Dr Juan José Rodríguez Sendín. “Some of these are fuelled by high-profile figures and spread widely on social media.”

 

He warned that some of the most persistent false beliefs are those with a religious element or that are deeply rooted in society.

 

“These theories,” he said, “have been promoted by some opinion leaders and even heads of government like Donald Trump, whose denialist rhetoric has also been amplified through social media.”

 

One consequence of this trend, he noted, is the drop in measles vaccinations, especially in countries like the United States.

 

“In Spain, it’s not as worrying, although a case of measles is already worrying if it can be prevented,” Rodríguez Sendín said. “But confidence in our healthcare system is very high. And this has been prevalent due to our history of prestige and reputation, which allows us to have far fewer cases than other countries.”

 

Despite the challenges, SEMG insists that the family doctor “is often the last bastion against misinformation”. They called on the Ministry of Health to support doctors with more training in communication, as well as better tools to fight the spread of misinformation both in person and online.

 

“The goal is to try to ensure that colleagues have a strategy in their consultations to counteract the effects of these currents,” said Rodríguez Sendín, a member of SEMG’s Bioethics Group.

 

Cristina Santomé, a resident and member of the SEMG Residents and Young Specialists Group, said it’s vital that “young people [are] aware that this represents a problem,” especially as social media is a “breeding ground” for misinformation. Fellow resident Aythami Rivero Canino echoed the concern.

 

Younger doctors at the event also highlighted the role of social media in spreading denialist views, especially among young people. SEMG is urging greater collaboration with media outlets and public institutions to stop misinformation before it takes hold.

 

“This is not just a medical issue,” Rodríguez added. “It is a cultural and social one too.”

 

Rodríguez concluded with a clear message: “We must develop responses that are the opposite of those employed by the denialists.”

 

SEMG also stressed that “it is not enough to be scientifically right; you have to know how to communicate it with empathy and closeness.”

 

 

Image: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash