{"id":20546,"date":"2023-06-01T08:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20546"},"modified":"2023-07-19T12:06:49","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T17:06:49","slug":"zocdoc-report-mens-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/zocdoc-reports\/zocdoc-report-mens-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Zocdoc Report: Men’s Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recognition of Men\u2019s Health Month, Zocdoc, the leading healthcare marketplace that makes it easy for people to find and book in-person or virtual care across +200 specialties and +12k insurance plans, today announces the findings of its 2023 Men’s Health Report, which includes the results of a new nationwide survey of over 1,000 U.S. men, as well as proprietary insights from Zocdoc booking behavior data.<\/span><\/p>\n

As research shows that men’s health generally <\/span>lags behind women’s<\/span><\/a>, and men only comprise 34% of its appointment bookings, Zocdoc set out to determine the extent of men\u2019s aversion to the doctor, and more importantly, their most common barriers to healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Appointment aversions<\/h2>\n

The new survey findings underscore men\u2019s historical healthcare aversions: 1 in 4 say they would rather change a flat tire than visit the doctor, while 1 in 3 would rather clean the entire house. And another 1 in 4 men say they are unlikely to proactively visit the doctor altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, according to the same survey, health ranks as men\u2019s No. 2 priority in life, second only to family \u2014 and 4 out of 5 men say that regular exams contribute to a longer and healthier life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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So, what\u2019s getting in the way?<\/h2>\n

According to the new data, much of it comes down to booking barriers. In fact, a third of men consider the process of booking an appointment more tedious than actually attending the appointment, while another third say booking and attending are equally tedious. Difficulty in finding in-network doctors was identified as another significant obstacle by 1 in 5 men.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the insights suggest that men have a large opportunity to more meaningfully take their health into their own hands. According to the survey, 3 in 10 men have someone else book their health appointments. Within Zocdoc bookings, 81% of appointments booked on men’s behalf are made by women.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Changing course<\/h2>\n

For healthcare providers, there are several important takeaways from these findings. Almost 1 in 3 men would look for an alternative doctor if they couldn’t get an appointment within one week, emphasizing the need for swift access to care. And according to the survey, a direct reminder from their healthcare provider is the most effective way to prompt men to book an appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, punctuality, clear communication, and a good rapport were identified as the top three traits men are looking for in their healthcare providers. Men also displayed a preference for male providers and are more likely to schedule near-term appointments than women, according to Zocdoc booking data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Healthcare highlights<\/h2>\n

Finally, among those men who are visiting the doctor, more of them are seeking therapy. Bookings related to mental health rose notably from 2022 to 2023: Zocdoc booking data shows a 172% increase in psychotherapy bookings overall, with a 60% increase in first-time psychotherapy visits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Men\u2019s most-booked healthcare appointment reasons in the last year include annual physical, dermatology consultation, illness, and dental cleaning or consultation.<\/span><\/p>\n

See the findings of the national survey and Zocdoc booking analysis below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Survey Results<\/h2>\n

Which of the following, if any, would you rather do than visit the doctor? Select all that apply<\/b><\/p>\n