President Trump and health care: a content analysis of misleading statements.

BACKGROUND

This study examines President Trump's misleading language in the area of health care. According to 'The Washington Post', President Trump has made over 10 000 misleading or false statements about public policy.

METHODS

We use content analysis to examine the 662 health-related statements made over the period from his inauguration on 20 January 2017 to 27 April 2019.

RESULTS

Analysis of these statements identified seven themes, and we also found that a plurality of the statements spreads false information about the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.

DISCUSSION

President Trump's misleading statements about health care are unprecedented and potentially damaging to public health. The communications may adversely affect the public's knowledge about their health care, their understanding of the health care system and their understanding of health care procedures.