National study shows U.S. men avoid the doctor

ALSO Why men don't visit the doctor and why they should

RELATED VIDEO CNN's Dr. Steve Salvatore reports on the reasons men give for not paying attention to their health. Windows Media 28K 80K

June 14, 1999
Web posted at: 5:49 p.m. EDT (2149 GMT)

In this story: More likely to self-treat The doctor/patient relationship Men and erectile dysfunction Food shopping and disease Nutrition RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- This week leading up to Father's Day is National Men's Health Week. Its purpose is to raise public awareness of the importance of preventive and early detection health care for men.

For the fifth year, the editors of "Mens Health" magazine in cooperation with CNN have conducted a nationwide survey to examine men's behaviors, habits and attitudes toward their health.

The telephone survey of 1,000 adults age 18 and older was conducted April 15-18. Participants were divided into three age groups, "generation Xers," "baby boomers" and "matures."

Survey topics included self-care, medical examinations, doctor-patient relationships, erectile dysfunction and food shopping.

Most of the men and women surveyed, 58 percent, think they are in excellent or very good health, and many say they more likely now than they were a year ago to treat themselves for common health problems before seeking medical advice.

Age seems to play a role. Generation Xers and baby boomers were more likely to treat themselves than the majority of matures, who said they would opt for a doctor's care first.

Geography also made a difference. Those who live in the Western United States were more likely than those living in the rest of the country, 47 percent vs. 38 percent, to practice self-care as a first option.

While self-care for common problems seems to be on the rise, the survey also found approximately one-third of all men will not go to the doctor even when experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as severe chest pains or shortness of breath -- two possible signs of a heart attack.

Women were more likely to see a doctor for such symptoms. Eighty-three percent of women would seek medical attention for chest pain and 77 percent for shortness of breath.

Women were also more likely to see a doctor for cancer screening. Fifty-five percent had a screening for some type of cancer in the past year, whereas only 32 percent of men were checked. Only 23 percent were checked for prostate cancer, the No. 1 cancer among men.

The American Cancer Society recommends that health care providers offer the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) annually beginning when patients are 50. However, men in high-risk groups -- African Americans and those who have two relatives who have had prostate cancer -- may want to begin screening at a younger age.

Though people gave different reasons for not going to a doctor, the most frequent reason was "too much trouble to get checked when nothing is bothering you." People also said it was too difficult to work doctor appointments into busy career schedules.

Other reasons people gave for not going to the doctor involved problems with insurance coverage, proximity to a doctor's office, and not feeling comfortable with the doctor or the doctor's office.

The availability of Viagra in the past 12 months has brought the serious male problem of erectile dysfunction to public attention. Survey results found 5 percent of the men experienced symptoms in the past six months that made them think they might need Viagra. Two percent used the drug during that period.

Twenty-six percent said they would wait a month or more before talking with a doctor about Viagra, even if they had symptoms. Eleven percent said they would never go talk to a doctor about Viagra.

Baby boomers were more inclined to wait before seeing a doctor about erectile dysfunction than either generation Xers or matures. Generation Xers were the group most likely to seek medical help immediately for the problem.

Americans believe in the power of food to heal. The majority believe eating a healthy diet can reduce a person's risk of disease. As many as nine out of 10 people believed natural foods like fruits, vegetables and grains can prevent problems as serious as cancer.

Those polled also indicated that they try to shop healthy. Two in every five felt their desire to be healthy affected grocery purchases. Twenty percent or more named specific health issues, such as a desire to lose weight or lower cholesterol, as important to keep in mind when choosing foods.

Seventy percent said they are able to balance unhealthy food choices with healthy choices, and 54 percent said cost is less of a factor than desire when shopping.

Men are more likely than women to buy the prepared food in the grocer's deli and are also more likely to buy junk food.

While people seem to believe food is important to good health, they don't necessarily eat that way. Most, 65 percent, recognized they could eat better.

Twenty-nine percent of those said they did not eat better because they are not currently coping with a health problem. Men gave this reason more than women, 36 percent vs. 24 percent.

Men were also more likely to say they weren't eating as healthily as they could because they were not trying to lose weight, because healthy food tastes awful and because their doctor had not directed them to eat better.