Employees need to take more control of their own healthcare
Aetna International has released two new Business of Health 2020 reports, the second of which reveals that while most workers are concerned about their health, 40 per cent will not go to the doctor for a checkup
The report, How organisations can overcome employee health inertia, surveyed 4,000 office workers across the US, UK, UAE and Singapore, looking at their attitudes towards health. It found that, despite 96 per cent of those surveyed asserting that they think about their health at least some of the time, only 60 per cent would go to the doctor to get any health issues checked, and that nearly one-quarter (24 per cent) are too scared to get a health check.
An apathy towards healthcare
“While the majority of workers are aware they need to do more to improve their health, fear and worry is causing a huge number to avoid the situation,” said Dr Sneh Khemka, President, Population Health & vHealth, Aetna International. “More should be done to empower people to manage their own health, with a focus on changing company cultures to promote prevention and early intervention. It is not only the responsibility of the employee but that of the employer to ensure people are equipped to lead healthy lives.”
Indeed, the report also identified that very few employees are aware of basic health indicators; only one in three (33 per cent) know what their cholesterol level of body fat percentage (29 per cent) is, although employees in the UAE and Singapore have a better knowledge of this. Another concerning figure that the report unearths is that, when people do feel ill, 40 per cent will look up symptoms online and self-medicate rather than consulting a doctor. And we all know how quickly such searches can escalate.
The employer’s role in improving attitudes towards healthcare
Finally, the report takes note of how the work environment can worsen employee’s everyday health, as well as how it can inspire employees to take control of their wellbeing. Almost half (47 per cent) of those surveyed admitted that they often feel stressed because of work but don’t see a healthcare professional about the issue. Long and inflexible working hours may be to blame, as one-third say they don’t have time to be ill at work, and nearly one-quarter (21 per cent) cite lack of time off from work as the reason behind their healthcare inertia.
On the other side of the coin, Aetna’s study also reveals that: over a quarter (27 per cent) of office workers admitting they would go to the doctor if their boss told them to; nearly half (46 per cent) said the ability to take time off work to go to the doctor would encourage them to make an appointment; and better access to online health consultations would encourage nearly one-third (31 per cent) to get regular checkups, with over one-third (35 per cent) asserting that they would like to use an app or online service.
“Expanding access to healthcare is imperative to ensure today’s time-poor workers prioritise their health. Technology can undoubtedly play a role here, but businesses also need to ensure they create a culture where people can talk about and take time for their health needs,” concluded Dr Khemka.