The power of preventative healthcare
Nearly two-thirds of Americans only go to the doctor when something feels “extremely wrong,” new research suggests. A recent survey of 2,000 respondents found that 64% take a more reactive approach to their health, rather than a proactive one.
Men polled were particularly susceptible to this — 79% said they only go to the doctor in “extremely wrong”-feeling cases compared to 59% of women.
The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, also found that the average respondent had their last checkup two and a half years ago.
Checkup skips are on the rise
Sixty-five percent have not been screened for high blood pressure within the past five years, and 66% have not been screened for high cholesterol.
Approximately three-quarters of women have not had a mammogram or pap smear in the past five years, and 70% of men have not had a prostate exam in that time.
Overall, only 48% of insured respondents have gone to a physician for a physical exam within the past year.
Only 44% of all respondents have dental insurance, and respondents have gone an average of two years since their last routine dental cleaning or checkup.
Interestingly, 39% of those polled have seen a dentist within the last year, regardless of their insurance status, compared with only 34% who have seen a doctor for an annual checkup or physical exam.
In general, 78% of respondents said they feel comfortable at doctor appointments, but nearly one-third (27%) were more afraid of going to doctor’s appointments now than before the pandemic.
Still, some of the respondents’ least favorite parts of medical appointments don’t involve the doctor at all, such as sitting in the waiting room (29%) and taking the time to go to the appointment itself (21%).
Overall, Gen X and baby boomers were the least bothered by medical appointments. At the same time, millennials and Gen Z ranked being touched or examined (22% and 27%), feeling pain (21% and 24%), and overall fear (21% and 22%) as among the top things that they dislike about visiting the doctor.
Trust in healthcare
Results also showed that respondents generally trust their doctor’s advice — with two-thirds of the overall group surveyed falling somewhere between “completely” and “mostly” trusting their counsel.
The survey also revealed that one in ten (10%) of Gen Xers said they “never” trust their doctor’s overall medical advice.
