Sitting around.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, a key reason why men don't visit the doctor is the waiting time involved. Men's reluctance to visit the doctor anyway is simply compounded by the amount of time spent waiting.
Health Services are Feminised.
Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men's Health Forum, found that both men and health professionals feel health services make men feel unwelcome. One reason is the feminised way health practices are organised in terms of decor and bias of information towards women. Men said they wanted to see more men's magazines, men's health posters, or even movies. Why, asks Ian Banks, can't surgeries be held in bars, golf clubs, or other places men are likely to be?
Embarrassment.
Men find it difficult to discuss intimate emotions, sexual difficulties, mental health issues like stress and depression, or physical problems that can
affect the bowel or genital areas. Even sharing information with a best friend can be an embarrassment for both the person and their friend. Why? men simply aren't used to it and as a result they find these situations uncomfortable and to be avoided.
No point unless there is something wrong.
Under the age of 40, men mostly view doctors in terms of emergencies, surgery, or dealing with sick people. In these terms men see little point in visiting the doctor unless something is very obviously wrong with themselves.
Men aren't socialized into visiting the doctor.
John W. Saultz, M.D., professor and chairman of Family Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University points out that from around the age of 16 girls continue to visit the doctor for routine gynecologic or maternity care whereas contact for men often stops. This helps to explain why waiting rooms are nearly always filled with women, children and older people. This is a situation many men find uncomfortable and have difficulty associating themselves with.
'Suck it up'.
From a young age men are socialized into internalizing their emotions and their physical discomfort. In some male-centred occupations these 'qualities' are actively encouraged. Subsequently many men who want to disclose information about their mood state, or even their physical state, don't know where to start.
Defects are signs of weakness.
This relates to the socialization issue. Not only do visits to the doctor signal illness or an inability to cope, it can appear to many men, to say something about masculinity. A lot of men would simply prefer to grit their teeth and hope 'it' will go away.
Fear of being judged.
A common concern in men is that their problem or physical state is something unique. Nothing could be further from the truth and the chances of your doctor never having come across your situation before are so small, they don't merit much thinking about.
Men exaggerate the negative qualities of healthcare provision.
As part of their rationale, many men find reasons why health services are inadequate, a waste of time, over-costly, etc. Sometimes this is little more than
an excuse, but there are occasions when a visit to the doctor leaves men feeling genuinely dissatisfied - and this can be for any number of reasons.
Doctors aren't equated with preventative health.
From the age of about 40 onwards men generally have to see their doctor more regularly. At this point they may start to see the benefits of screening rather
than waiting for something to go wrong.
Share Your Views
We want to build our own profile about men's experiences of the doctor. This could be why you are reluctant to visit, what your experiences were like during a visit or what you think needs to improve. Of course your experiences might be very positive - but what makes it so positive? Click here to share your views in the forum.
02/21/2006
