MediaLab Director presents findings on health misinformation at SPX Conference in Paris

Professor Daniel Catalan-Matamoros, MediaLab’s director, participated in this year’s SPX Conference in Paris, held under the theme “Together, towards excellence in Patient Experience.” His presentation, developed from a recent publication with other MediaLab colleagues, highlighted the importance of addressing health misinformation to improve patient experience and strengthen communication between healthcare professionals and patients.

The presentation titled “Health Disinformation as a Barrier to Patient Experience: Insights from Clinical Communication Practice” explored how misinformation encountered through digital platforms and social media is not merely an online phenomenon but a concrete clinical problem that directly affects trust, communication, and treatment adherence. Professor Catalan-Matamoros took participants through how the roles of patients, institutions, and healthcare provides are changing in the times of health misinformation.

The research highlights the need for empathetic, collaborative communication approaches that help healthcare professionals address misinformation while maintaining trusting relationships with patients. It also emphasises the importance of strengthening professional training in digital communication and misinformation management to support informed decision-making and patient-centred care.

The presentation forms part of the dissemination efforts of the MediaLab-implemented  COMSALUD project (2023–2027), supported by Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. The project investigates pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, misinformation and media literacy in health communication. Participation in the SPX Conference provided an opportunity to share the project’s research with the wider patient experience community and contribute to discussions on building more trustworthy and effective healthcare communication