The epidemic of misinformation

Physicians may have gotten used to answering questions based on claims from "Dr. Google," but the recent rise of mis- and disinformation, spurred on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, presents its own set of increasingly frustrating challenges. Patients may question the financial motives behind a treatment, for example, or counter an evidence-based recommendation with a tweet. The good news is that primary care physicians' long-term relationships with their patients offer a solid foundation to push back against false and dangerous statements, no matter their origin. Read our story for more on why trust may be your most effective weapon (and if you're inspired to take the fight against falsehoods to social media, turn to our companion story).

Major depressive disorder can be tricky both to diagnose and to treat. Patients may report physical symptoms rather than psychological ones, and it may take time to tease out the underlying cause. Regarding treatment, strong evidence to support one method over another is lacking, as ACP noted in a living clinical guideline published in Annals of Internal Medicine in January, which recommended choosing between monotherapy with a second-generation antidepressant or cognitive behavioral therapy. Our story gives more details on how to make that choice with your patients.

Our I.M. Ready feature this issue is all about finances. Because of time spent in extended schooling, early career physicians are often behind their peers in other professions regarding savings and financial planning. It's imperative to recognize this and take charge of your financial future, and ACP's new Financial Well-being Program offers excellent resources to help. Financial experts walk you through this member benefit and list the steps you should be taking as an early career physician to make your money work for you.

An update from ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine's latest virtual forum, on the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, is online. Conference coverage, meanwhile, is from the Society of Hospital Medicine's CONVERGE, held in March in Austin, Texas. Learn three ways to improve the culture in your workplace, and read advice on how and why to "say this, not that" when having serious conversations with patients. Finally, our Pearls from I.M. Peers column tackles some misconceptions around decongestants, while ACP's President discusses universal health care and our Chief Advocacy Officer shares how recent illnesses in her family made ACP policy personal.

How has ACP policy impacted your life and your work as an internal medicine physician? Let us know at immatters@acponline.org.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Kearney-Strouse
Executive Editor