The average American male is at least twice as likely
as a woman to not seek the care of a healthcare professional in a given year.
CONTRIBUTOR
Laura Mueller
Essential Insights contributor, healthcare writer
Featured experts
Matthew Kunar, DO
Director, Medical Education, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital
Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, FACP
Healthcare industry executive
Kendell Sherrer
Vice President, Global Benefits, Cardinal Health
According to the most recent mortality statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average American male will die about five years sooner than the average American female.
There are many reasons for this phenomenon, including that men are more likely to avoid the doctor. The CDC data also shows that the average American male is at least twice as likely as a woman to not seek the care of a healthcare professional in a given year. That means health issues can go unnoticed.
“The mortality rate is higher for men in eight of the ten leading causes of death," said Matthew Kunar, DO, director of Medical Education at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital. “Preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and some cancers would have much better survival rates if more men sought regular care."
Unfortunately, getting more men to the doctor is easier said than done. Often, the responsibility falls on women to encourage the men in their lives to see a physician, both for preventative care and treatment for acute symptoms.
With June designated as Men's Health Month, here's a deeper look at why more men may be hesitant to go to the doctor and how healthcare organizations and providers can help.
Why men don’t go to the doctor
The reasons that men fail to seek regular care vary.
For starters, Dr. Kunar said, men typically require fewer regular annual screenings than women, particularly at younger ages. While women are establishing provider relationships earlier on for regular cervical and breast cancer screenings, he said, men are often not seeking care until something is really bothering them or until a screening is required by an employer or insurance provider.
There's also the notion that seeking help or admitting you feel sick is a weakness.
“In my experience, men struggle with admitting vulnerabilities because these are always viewed as negative," said Chadi Nabhan, MD, chief medical officer for Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions and a former practicing oncologist. “The threat to masculinity when a man admits that he is not feeling well and needs help is a major barrier that we all need to acknowledge, embrace, and then find solutions to overcome."
Compounding these factors are the more typical ones that hold back those of all genders from seeking care—lack of funds, lack of insurance, and a lack of awareness about the importance of preventative care and health screenings.
What healthcare organizations are doing to help
Here are three ways that both healthcare organizations and providers are addressing the barriers in getting men to seek medical care.
Educating men
Getting more men to the doctor starts with better education around the necessity of routine visits.
“I believe a lot of men haven't found the value in routine visits because they don't understand what diseases can be altered and/or prevented," Dr. Kunar said. “We as physicians need to prove our value by taking the time to explain why regular care is important."
With so much information surfacing on social media on health-related matters, men can benefit from visiting the doctor even when they feel completely healthy, Dr. Nabhan added. He said that discussions then can center on nutrition and diet, value and type of exercise, mindfulness, and other measures that can lead to a healthy and long life.
Focusing on clear communication
Clear communication between providers and their male patients is fundamental for better care, Kunar added, both in getting men through the door and conveying what tests are necessary and why. “I have found that if men truly understand why and what you are doing, they're more likely to trust you and return for routine visits."
With his own patients, Dr. Nabhan related routine doctor's visits to routine car care, an analogy that helps simplify the importance of regular checkups. “Men will always visit the car mechanic and ensure their cars are running smoothly," he said. “I tell men to care for themselves and their bodies as well as they care for their cars."
The Cleveland Clinic also encourages men to speak up about their health concerns with their providers through their website called MENtion It, which includes information on an array of health topics for men.
Incentivizing routine care
Employers and payers play an important role too and can work with health systems to encourage more routine care. Dr. Kunar noted that the growing trend of employer-run health insurance and wellness programs are stressing the importance of regular screenings and incentivizing yearly checkups. The more healthcare providers can work together with the other systems, the more avenues they have to reach male patients and encourage routine care.
“We know people, especially men, can be hesitant to do regular check-ups,” said Kendell Sherrer, vice president of Global Benefits at Cardinal Health. “So, we provide free biometric screenings and flu shots on-site at all locations with 50 or more employees, as well as health assessments online. And these count toward a $450 medical premium discount. Also, preventative care is covered at 100 percent as part of our medical plans.”
As with so many other things, breaking down barriers and changing paradigms starts with changing the dialogue. Ultimately, Dr. Nabhan said, it comes down to conveying the importance of regular care in a way that is most likely to resonate.
“With men," he said, “I want to get the message across that it is okay to be sick, but it is not okay to not seek help, advice, or counseling."