Clinical Scorecard: Navigating Cancer Information Trust in a Time of Distrust Fragmentation

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Trust in physicians remained consistently high at approximately 96% before and after the pandemic.
• A modest post-pandemic reduction in confidence in government health agencies was observed.
• Patients often seek cancer information from various sources, including social media and online platforms.
• Trust in physicians is closely associated with cancer knowledge and informed decision-making.
• Nonmetropolitan residents showed a modest decline in trust, indicating potential disparities in cancer care.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Recognize the importance of trust in understanding cancer diagnoses.

Management

• Assist patients in interpreting and applying information they have encountered.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Screen for psychosocial vulnerability to identify patients needing additional communication support.

Risks

• Unproven cancer treatments have been linked to reduced overall survival.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with cancer seeking information and treatment options.

Patients may arrive with misconceptions influenced by various information sources.

Clinical Best Practices

• Engage patients in shared decision-making by understanding their prior beliefs and experiences.
• Address misinformation while validating patients' narratives and experiences.
• Employ multilevel communication strategies that involve both clinicians and patients.

Related Resources & Content

• Burus et al. Study