Perhaps the attention being given to personal responsibility for health is gaining traction in the U.S.
A study by Ipsos, Pfizer and the National Council on Patient Information and Education found that eight of 10 in the survey of 2,000-plus U.S. adults said they believe there's an expectation that they will be actively engaged in improving their health. Further, 92 percent want to have more control of their personal health.
Almost everyone in the survey (95 percent) said they associate diet and exercise with good health management practices. (Who are the 5 percent that missed those?)
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But large majorities were aware that they play a central role in their own well-being, and that myriad factors that influence one's health are within their control. Consider these results:
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Other actions identified as important included engaging in screenings and wellness check-ups (88 percent), preventative care (87 percent), consultations with doctors (83 percent) and decision-making about how they want to deal with a health problem (87 percent);
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People are researching health problems and symptoms (67 percent), tracking health indicators such as weight and blood pressure (64 percent) and taking over-the-counter (OTC) products to manage acute health conditions (59 percent);
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64 percent believe they could be making more decisions about their health and wellness;
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88 percent feel confident in their abilities to take responsibility for their health;
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89 percent agree that they know where to look and whom to ask if they have health questions or concerns.
Using OTC products and making informed choices about them is part of a growing self-reliance among patients when it comes to their own health maintenance, the study said. But many still require the advice of a trained health care person when making common of self-care decisions like selecting an OTC product.
The survey reported that 38 percent said they feel they don't have enough information to make the best choice of OTC products on their own, and 56 percent said they routinely ask the advice of a pharmacist, primary care physician or another health expert when making OTC selections.
"With so much information at our fingertips today, advances in technology and more medicines to treat and manage conditions, we need to make sure that health education initiatives keep pace," said Ray Bullman, executive vice president of NCPIE. "There is an ongoing need to educate individuals with accurate and up-to-date information so they can continue to take an active role in their own care and that of their loved ones."
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Dan Cook
Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.
