A Cleveland Clinic survey found that men would rather do household chores than go to the doctor, underscoring the fact that males are less likely than females to use preventative healthcare services. Unfortunately, this leads to higher rates of late-stage diagnoses and preventable complications among men. June is Men’s Health Month, and the perfect time for men to step up their game and take better care of their health.
Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death for men in the U.S. Thankfully, early detection of these diseases allows for a range of preventative treatments. A key example is colorectal cancer, whichappears more often among men than women, and can be diagnosed and treated early with regular colonoscopies. As such, men need to be better armed with information about healthcare’s complexity and constantly changing rules, which can be seen as an impediment to seeking preventative care. Though men are less likely to ask for help from a healthcare professional, they should not try to go through this alone and, fortunately, they don’t have to.
Here are a few simple tips to help men navigate the healthcare landscape more effectively and empower them to take better control of their well-being.
Start with healthcare insurance. Men must take the time to understand their insurance plan -- what it covers and what it doesn’t, which doctors are in-network and which aren’t and the details of any co-pay. This can take some work for men, especially fathers. Studies show that mothers handle as much as 80 percent of a family’s medical decision-making responsibilities.
Next, learn the terminology. Like every other profession, healthcare has its own language and jargon (and endless acronyms). Take the time to learn common terms and phrases. Plain-language medical dictionaries can help patients understand healthcare terminology, which can sound to many like a foreign language.
Google is a common resource used to answer healthcare questions. But sometimes, people can feel buried under a pile of search results, not knowing which to prioritize. AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and others, provide answers in direct, easy-to-understand language. Make sure you ask them to provide sources for their information. A 2023 Pew Research Center study showed that men are more likely to be familiar with AI than women, so men have a ready on-ramp to learn more about their health.
Men should think about what questions they want to ask their healthcare providers before they have an appointment and write them down. What options are there for treatment? What are the risks/advantages? If applicable, what will recovery or rehabilitation look like? If treatment involves a procedure, where will the procedure take place? Helpful tip: Think about this like a cherished hobby or a period of history you want to learn everything about.
Men and women often engage with the healthcare systems at the worst moments of their lives. It is difficult enough for a patient to understand the healthcare process and make informed decisions when they are healthy. Doing so is nearly impossible when they are in distress or pain.
Everyone needs an advocate – men, too. Ideally, a friend or family member who is capable, clear-headed and assertive can fill this important support role. When patients are in crisis, they are at a disadvantage and often feel unable to do anything other than agree with doctors. This is why they need someone at their side to ask probing questions and to push back when necessary.
But not everyone has this sort of friend or family member. As an alternative, many hospitals have patient advocates on staff. The Patient Advocate Foundation offers case management, financial aid and resources for learning more about Medicare. Many hospitals and clinics also offer financial assistance programs for patients who can’t afford care. Men shouldn’t hesitate to ask about these options.
Active patients are the best-cared-for patients. Patients, especially older patients, often defer to the expertise and authority of physicians. But if patients don’t understand something a doctor says, they should not hesitate to ask for clarification.
During the appointment, men should take notes or ask their friend or family member to do so.
It's well-documented that men spend less time thinking about and engaging in their own healthcare. With the focus on men’s health this month, it’s the perfect time to change that. Men’s friends and families are depending on it.
Len Wright is the Chief Executive Officer of US Anesthesia Partners (USAP).
