Medical misinformation and unverifiable content about COVID-19 are being propagated at an alarming rate, particularly on social media. Such misinformation may confer increased risk for nonadherence with COVID-19-related guidelines as well as ongoing medical regimens. This is particularly concerning for patients who are immunocompromised, such as pediatric cancer patients.

Study purpose: Determine whether there are differences in endorsement of COVID-19 related misinformation between parents/caregivers of children currently in cancer treatment and those whose children have no cancer history.

Panel survey firm Qualtrics was used to carry out a survey among 735 parents of children between the ages of 2-17 years (n = 315 currently in cancer treatment; n = 420 without a cancer history) from May 1-31, 2020. Participants were asked to endorse a series of COVID-19 related misinformation statements.

Parents of children with cancer were more likely to believe misinformation compared to parents of children without cancer. Believing misinformation was also more likely for fathers, younger parents, and parents with higher perceived stress from COVID-19.

These results suggest that healthcare professionals working in pediatric oncology, in particular, should be aware of the potentially high endorsement of COVID-19 misinformation among parents of pediatric cancer patients. Providers should proactively address COVID-19 misinformation in routine visits with pediatric oncology patients. Additionally, given the evolving pandemic information landscape, researchers must develop innovative preventive interventions to combat misinformation and public health communicators must continue to endeavor to provide clear and consistent communications related to COVID-19.