Misinformation in Patient Handouts About Upper Extremity Conditions

Abstract

This study investigated handouts regarding common upper extremity problems for inaccuracies, distracting information, and concepts that reinforce common unhelpful cognitive biases. We reviewed handouts on upper extremity conditions from 2 electronic medical records and 2 professional associations. We categorized information as inaccurate, distracting, and risk of reinforcing common unhelpful cognitive biases. Reading level, quality, and the ability of patients to process and take action was also rated. We found an average rate of inaccurate statements of 1.9 per 100 words, distracting statements of 0.73 per 100 words, and statements reinforcing common unhelpful cognitive biases of 2.1 per 100 words. Handouts from electronic medical records were rated higher quality and had higher reading grade level, but on average were constructed for better understandability. Patient handouts have a notable rate of inaccuracies, distractions, and information that may reinforce less adaptive cognitions. Greater attention is merited to making patient handouts readable, understandable, hopeful, and enabling.