Men vs. Women: 2008 Survey of Health Care ConsumersSharp differences surface in the health care attitudes, behaviors and needs of American men and women |
When it comes to health care attitudes and actions, the divide between the two genders is wide. The findings of the inaugural 2008 Deloitte Survey of Health Care Consumers, a comprehensive online poll of more than 3,000 participants, revealed substantive differences in how women and men select, finance and manage their own health care.
Women want greater control of their health care and are more likely than men to:
- Make their own decisions about treatment, rather than defer to their doctor
- Become more engaged in comparison shopping for reduced health care costs and better hospital services
- Explore alternatives to traditional health care services (alternative treatments and drugs, retail clinics, e.g.)
- Favor more tailored health care coverage and taking better care of themselves and their families
- Consult health-related Web sites for medical information in greater numbers than men (women are more web-savvy)
- Insist in higher percentages upon online access to test results and appointments
The survey results for men indicate they are:
- Less likely to be admitted to a hospital for treatments
- Less likely to delay a course of treatment
- More likely to pay additional costs for the same-day appointments
- More willing to go abroad for medical treatments; if it saves them money
- More toward higher deductibles and lower co-pays from their health plans
The breakdown of the survey found women are more likely to:
- Have their own primary care doctor
- Be admitted to hospital for treatments
- Delay a course of treatment
- Use alternative approaches
- Order health care products online
- Use a retail clinic
- Make personal treatment decisions
- Ask a doctor about a specific brand
- Switch doctors in the past 24 months
- Switch treatments
- Go to a hospital that isn’t closest
- Maintain a personal health record
- Want online access to medical records and test results
- Want more time with doctors and nurses during hospital stays
- Take prescription drugs
- Express a brand drug preference to doctor
- Use health websites for information on medicines
- Have interest in self-monitoring devices to eliminate doctor visits
- Understand primary health care coverage
- Want prescription coverage in health plan(s)
- Take preventative measures to improve health of self and family
The breakdown of the survey found men are more likely to:
- Pay more for the same day appointments
- Opt for an elective procedure in a foreign country to save money
- Use prescription drugs over alternatives
- Have heard of biologics
- Make changes to health coverage
- Want higher deductible and lower co-pay premiums
Related Content:
Survey:
2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers
Fact Sheet Library:
Health Care Consumerism
Overview:
Center for Health Solutions
