(MasterControl: Salt Lake City) -- A new study from life science manufacturing software company MasterControl reveals that more than 82% of American physicians have questioned the quality or safety of medical products they prescribe to patients, highlighting significant concerns about healthcare product integrity across the medical community.

The research, which surveyed 250 doctors across a range of medical practices, provides valuable insights into a healthcare environment where physicians face mounting challenges in ensuring patient safety amid quality concerns, shifting confidence in regulatory bodies, and evolving challenges in medical practice. While the study found that physicians maintain high standards for medical products, it also highlights critical areas where technology and enhanced collaboration can address evolving healthcare challenges.

Declining confidence in regulators

Nearly three in four doctors (71%) say the CDC and FDA bring value to their practice. However, overall institutional confidence is deteriorating.
• More than half of healthcare providers (53%) report declining confidence in these regulatory bodies.
• Specifically, 46% of American doctors report declining confidence in the CDC and 44% in the FDA during the last 12 months.

Some of the top quality concerns span multiple product categories:
• 41% of physicians frequently question the quality of cosmetic devices
• 28% regularly raise concerns about over-the-counter drugs they prescribe
• More than a quarter (26%) question home medical devices (such as glucose monitors, CPAP machines)

The rise of medical misinformation

An overwhelming majority of physicians are currently navigating major misinformation challenges, with 98% encountering misinformed patients. In addition, 66% of healthcare providers report that the most common form of misinformation they encounter is patients self-diagnosing based on internet searches and social media content; vaccine misinformation also made the top five (56%).

Doctors want manufacturer’s support

Healthcare providers say that for them to feel confident in prescribing and/or using pharmaceutical and medical device companies’ products, they need critical support, such as:
• Postmarket survey data (48%)
• Clear documentation and reference materials (45%)
• Ongoing education (41%)
• 24/7 tech support (39%)

In addition, there are several key areas where manufacturers have room to grow to best support physicians, including addressing postmarket safety concerns and recalls (41%), questionable clinical trial data (38%), responding to patient reports of inconsistent effects (36%), and foreign manufacturing concerns (33%).

AI advantages

Despite modern challenges for physicians, there are promising signs that technology may offer solutions. The survey found that 61% of doctors are using AI in their practice, and 54% of physicians believe AI should be used to improve quality assurance processes of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. Doctors who use AI reported several improvements:
• Reduced time on documentation (26%)
• Decreased mental workload (26%)
• Improved administrative efficiency (25%)
• Enhanced diagnostic accuracy (24%)
• Faster clinical decision-making (22%)

However, AI is not a silver bullet yet. For those not yet using the technology, barriers include lack of training on AI or knowledge (51%), uncertainty about clinical values or outcomes (38%), concerns about reliability or accuracy (31%), and cost constraints (27%).

“This research provides invaluable insights from the medical community that can help our industry continue to improve,” says MasterControl CEO Jon Beckstrand. “When the vast majority of physicians question the products they prescribe, it signals an urgent need for enhanced quality systems and greater transparency throughout the medical product supply chain. The manufacturing industry is uniquely positioned to address these concerns.”