Timothy Caulfield, JD, is a professor in the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Caulfield also conducts research on the misrepresentation of science and health-related issues.
At the 2024 Society of Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Caulfield presented a session titled, “The Misinformation Crisis: How Did We Get to This Point and What Can We Do?”
Caulfield is Dermatology Times We will discuss highlights from the session and what we think health care workers can do to combat misinformation.
“I think this community can really make a difference,” Caulfield said. “We know that trust in institutions, in science, in doctors in general has been eroded, but health care providers remain some of the most trusted voices, especially when we’re talking about the doctor-patient relationship.”
Transcript
Timothy Caulfield, JD: My name is Timothy Caulfield, and I’m a professor in the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Public Health at the University of Alberta, where my research focuses primarily on how science and health are represented in the public sphere. I do a lot of research on health and science policy, and of course, especially recently, a lot of research on health misinformation.
I’m really looking forward to speaking with this community. First of all, I think this community is super relevant. I think this is a hot topic for this community, this audience, so I’m looking forward to engaging with them. I’m also really interested in their thoughts on what issues they face in the area of misinformation. But the other reason I’m excited to have this opportunity is because I think this community can really make a difference. We know that trust in institutions, in science, in doctors in general is undermined, but healthcare providers are still one of the most trusted voices, especially when we talk about the doctor-patient relationship. I’m really looking forward to speaking with this community and I’m looking forward to the event.
Dermatology Times: What were the main highlights and takeaways from the session “The Misinformation Crisis: How Did We Get to This Point and What Can We Do?”
Caulfield: I think it’s pretty clear that this is a big problem. I think the spread of health misinformation is one of the biggest challenges of our time. I tried to make that point. I don’t think this is a hard thing for this community to understand, but the scope and reach of the problem is really enormous. So this presentation was, in some ways, a call to arms. We need everyone to stand up.
Dermatology Times: Of all the misinformation tips, which do you think are most applicable to pediatric dermatologists?
Caulfield: First of all, it’s about recognizing that we can make a difference. I think there’s so much misinformation out there that it can be very frustrating at times. But the good news, and I hope I’ve shown this, is that we can make a difference. We can lie in advance. We can do it at the professional level, at the population level, and at the patient level. We can see misinformation in this space that can give patients and the public the tools to spot lies.
We can also debunk. We can pre-debunk and debunk — correct that information. We can do that in public, but also on a personal level. It can be really frustrating. It feels like nothing is going to change, but you can make a difference. I also think it’s really important that we play a role in teaching critical thinking skills at the professional level, at the organizational level. To really explain how good science gets brought into clinical practice. Because I think that’s how patients are educated and can see through the nonsense. Of course, I also think that we need to speak out more often. Or organizations like this can take a stand and create content that helps patients navigate a noisy information environment. All of these strategies can make a difference.
Dermatology Times: How can dermatologists and healthcare professionals work together to combat misinformation?
Caulfield: I hope that we can inspire a little bit of a collective effort on this issue. I think organizations like yours can come together and tackle certain issues whenever they come up. For example, right now there’s a lot of misinformation about sunscreen and the effects of the sun. Let’s create content that clarifies the science, that we can share on social media, and do that as a community. Because I think that by highlighting what the scientific consensus actually says, and highlighting that the research proves it, we can make a difference. By explaining what the scientific consensus is, we can change both perspectives and behaviors. That’s one thing we can do as a community.
One thing, especially in this field, there’s a ton of ridiculous nonsense out there. People drinking urine, people irradiating their testicles, etc. There’s a ton of ridiculous nonsense in the field of dermatology, so it’s easy to laugh at it. But don’t laugh at it. Even ridiculous things can get talked about. So take that ridiculous noise as an opportunity to talk about science. Don’t just laugh at it. We have to counter even the most ridiculous nonsense.
[Transcript has been edited for clarity.]
