Health Communication in the Era of Publicly Available Medical Information and Misinformation - SPOC

Course Information

Course Description

In today's digital environment, patients with cancer are exposed to vast amounts of publicly available medical information-much of which is incomplete, misleading, or outright false. Such misinformation can shape patients' perceptions, erode trust in healthcare providers, influence treatment decisions, and, in some cases, lead to delays in or rejection of evidence-based care. This practical seminar is designed for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals who work directly with patients with cancer. Drawing on recent research in patient-provider communication, infodemiology, and misinformation, the session will examine key definitions of misinformation in the context of cancer care, as well as the typical pathways through which patients encounter and rely on it. Participants will explore how communication style affects patients' trust in providers' opinions and, ultimately, their adherence to treatment recommendations. The seminar will also offer practical, evidencebased strategies for addressing misinformation in ways that preserve trust, support shared decision-making, and promote informed patient choices.

Learning Objectives

  • Strengthen providers' skills in recognizing and defining cancer misinformation for research and practice.
  • Understand the typical pathways of patients' misinformation exposure and its influence on patients' decisions.
  • Equip participants with evidence-based communication strategies to effectively correct misinformation while maintaining trust and supporting shared decision-making.

 

Course Documents

Handouts

 

Course Registration


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You must have an account and be logged in to register. Please contact us with any questions at [email protected] or (919) 445–1000.

Disclaimer

The views expressed herein are those of the presenter, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the contracted organization, department, School of Medicine, nor the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Tech
  • 1.25 ASRT
  • 1.25 NCPD/CNE
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
11/19/2025
Course expires: 
11/18/2027
Patient Centered Care Logo 

The Cancer Treatment in North Carolina: Patient Centered Care webinar series covers components of patient-centered health care delivery in cancer treatment and survivorship. The focus of this series is not disease-specific but includes discussion of approaches to improving care delivery for all cancer patients and survivors.

These webinars provide FREE continuing education credit.

Photo of Ilona Fridman, PhD 

Ilona Fridman, PhD

Assistant Professor
Center for Discovery and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health
Georgetown University

Disclosures

Activity Directors
This activity has been planned and implemented under the sole supervision of the Course Director, Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, MPH, and Emily Ray, MD, of the UNC School of Medicine in association with the UNC Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Dr. Wheeler and Dr. Ray have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies as defined by the ACCME. CPD staff have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies as defined by the ACCME.

ANCC
Except as defined above, no one with the ability to control content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company.

Ilona Fridman, PhD: The presenter has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies as defined by the ACCME.

 

Accreditation Statements

The following accrediting agencies have approved this course for continuing education credits. Participants should understand that their individual participation and claiming credit must abide by the regulations set forth by their respective accrediting agency. No partial credit will be provided.

1.25 NCPD/CNE
UNC Health is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation..

1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
The University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Statements of credit can be viewed and printed in CPE Monitor in approximately 2 to 3 weeks.

The Eshelman School of Pharmacy of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 ACPE Credit(s).

1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Tech
The University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Statements of credit can be viewed and printed in CPE Monitor in approximately 2 to 3 weeks.

The Eshelman School of Pharmacy of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 ACPE Credit(s).

1.25 ASRT
Approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).

This activity is worth 1.25 credit hour and is approved by the ASRT.

1.00 ODS/CTR
Approved by the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA).

This activity is worth 1 credit hour and is approved by the NCRA.

 

Notice

In most cases, regulations prohibit the repeated use of the same educational activity (Live Webinar or Self-Paced, Online Course but not both) as it relates to satisfying CE requirements to maintain licensure. Attendees are also required to view a minimum of 53 minutes of the live webinar video to receive CE credit. Please contact your individual accreditation agencies for more details.

Altering or submitting modified certificates constitutes fraud that can result in punitive action by the accrediting agency.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Tech
  • 1.25 ASRT
  • 1.25 NCPD/CNE
  • 1.00 Participation
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