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Oct. 2, 2024
Healthcare anxiety and doctor-patient communication
A new survey by Talker Research revealed, despite increased anxieties related to their health, Americans are feeling more confident consulting their doctor about their fears.
The third annual poll of 2,000 nationally represented U.S. adults asked respondents to share their thoughts, feelings and behaviors as they relate to the healthcare industry.
Results found 42 percent of Americans have a persistent anxiety that they have some undiagnosed health condition.
Less Fear Overall
However, people are showing less fear talking about their health condition concerns with a doctor year-over-year — this year, 25% admitted they are afraid to talk to their healthcare provider about their conditions and symptoms; a major decrease from 2023 (46 percent) and 2022 (51 percent).
The survey, commissioned by PatientPoint and conducted by Talker Research, found a third of Americans have seen the level of trust in their healthcare provider increase over the past year.
Yet the increased trust in doctors themselves hasn’t entirely erased the inherent fear related to visiting a doctor’s office. In fact, over half (54 percent) said they feel a sense of anxiety before their doctor’s appointments — an upward trend from 39 percent in 2022 and 48 percent in 2023.
When asked why, respondents said they’re concerned about being judged (37 percent), not being able to afford treatment or medications (29 percent) or being referred to a specialist (29 percent).
The study found 82 percent of Americans have visited their doctor in the past 12 months, and many of them expressed what weighs heavily on their minds before visits.
Desire for More Information
One primary concern regarding Americans’ healthcare is lack of information: 53 percent said they wish they knew how to properly describe their conditions and symptoms better before talking to their healthcare provider.
Likewise, 49 percent said they’d love to have more information and advice on how to talk to their healthcare providers.
“A significant opportunity exists to more actively engage patients in their health journey,” said PatientPoint Founder and CEO Mike Collette. “Connecting patients with the right education before, during and after their visit empowers them to not only have more meaningful conversations with their doctor but ultimately make more informed decisions regarding their health.”
Despite these concerns, four in five (81 percent) felt like their healthcare provider listens to their concerns and only 37 percent leave their appointments feeling confused, which is down from 48 percent in 2022.
Respondents also noted other positive attributes related to their recent healthcare experiences. Those included: feeling more heard and respected by their doctors (66 percent), having an overall positive experience with their doctor (54 percent) and having a doctor that takes their background into account (37 percent).
