Two references of interest about studies of erroneous medical beliefs in Richard Wiseman's book 'Paranormality' introduction chapter :

L.J Chapman and J.P Chapman (1967). ‘Genesis of popular but erroneous psychodiagnostic observations’. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 72, pages 193–204.

D.A Redelmeier and A. Tversky (1996). ‘On the belief that arthritis pain is related to the weather’. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 93, pages 2895-6.