2 in 3 only see a doctor when something feels extremely wrong

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

WHAT CONVINCES YOU TO GO TO THE DOCTOR? FOR NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO FEEL ‘EXTREMELY WRONG.’

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 U.S. ADULTS REVEALED THAT MEN WERE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS, AS 79% ONLY GO TO THE DOCTOR IN EXTREME CASES, COMPARED TO 59% OF WOMEN

THIS MAY BE BECAUSE 64% OF RESPONDENTS TEND TO TAKE A MORE REACTIVE APPROACH TO THEIR HEALTH, RATHER THAN A PROACTIVE ONE.

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF THE HENRY SCHEIN CARES FOUNDATION, RESULTS ALSO REVEALED THAT THE AVERAGE RESPONDENT HAD THEIR LAST CHECKUP TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 65% HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND A SIMILAR NUMBER (66%) HAVEN’T BEEN SCREENED FOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL.

OVERALL, LESS THAN HALF (48%) OF INSURED RESPONDENTS HAVE GONE TO THE DOCTOR FOR A PHYSICAL EXAM IN THE PAST YEAR.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Henry Schein Cares Foundation between February 21 and March 2, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).