SURVEY: Americans Depend on Doctors for Health Guidance but Face Challenges Verifying Accuracy

Healthcare professionals continue to be the main source of health-related information for Americans, with 85% of respondents consulting them at least occasionally, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey involving 5,111 adults.

Sixty percent of participants also turn to prominent health websites such as WebMD, while 66% seek input from individuals who share similar health conditions. Newer platforms show lower usage rates: 36% of respondents use social media, and 22% rely on AI chatbots for health information.

Although access to health information is widespread, half of Americans report finding it at least somewhat challenging to evaluate the accuracy of this information, with 12% describing the task as extremely or very difficult. When faced with contradictory health information, 54% have difficulty deciding which sources to trust.

Healthcare providers receive the highest accuracy ratings from Americans, with 65% considering the information they provide to be highly accurate. In contrast, only 7% regard health information obtained from social media as highly accurate.