VIDEO: How to address misinformation about birth control with patients

Editor's note: This is an automatically generated transcript, which has been slightly edited for clarity. Please notify editor@healio.com if there are concerns regarding accuracy of the transcription.

One of the toughest things about birth control counseling is the degree of misinformation and disinformation that is flooding so many, whether it’s social media platforms or the internet more broadly, it really causes a lot of confusion. So, by the time the patients come to see us, they have all of this information swirling in their head, and some of it is true and some of it is not necessarily true. So, one of the toughest things to do is how do we support our patients in that moment, but also address the misinformation or incorrect information that they may be bringing in. One, we want to be very clear upfront that what we don’t want to do is to disparage their research or to discourage them from collecting information on their own. That is actually a really good thing. It’s a sign that this person is deeply invested in their health and well-being and interested in helping to direct their medical care. So, one, I would offer that we should see this as a positive when someone comes in with a lot of information. There’s also a very nuanced way to make corrections.

What we don’t want to do is disparage the resources. Information may have come from their mom or their auntie or cousins or close friends, and we know that the power of the social network is greater than any influence any doctor can have during contraceptive visits. And so, it isn’t useful for me to say, “Oh no, your mom is wrong, what she said isn’t true,” and instead really making space. It is a both/and. “Wow, I’m so sorry to hear that that happened with your aunt when she was using this method. It’s hard because everybody’s experience isn’t the same. Why don’t we talk a little bit about what your concerns are and how we can address them?” It’s totally fine to say, “You know, the research actually doesn’t show that to be true for most people. I understand that that happened to your friend, and I’m so sorry to hear that. Maybe we can talk about some other options that may prevent that same risk for you.” So, it is both acknowledging this person’s work going into it, the courage that it took for them to engage with us in this way, and being supportive of the experiences of their loved ones and those around them while communicating corrective information.