The survey generated several key findings:

• Respondents reported that they spend the equivalent of an eight-hour workday each month coordinating health care for themselves and/or loved ones.
• 71% of adults are concerned that the demands on health care providers are onerous.
• 68% worry that health care workforce shortages will affect patients.
• Two-thirds said health care providers appear to be more rushed than in the past.
• 47% believe their health care providers are burned out or overburdened, with nearly one-third reporting feeling rushed during a health care appointment.
• 61% seek health care services only when they are sick.
• 54% have skipped or delayed care in the past two years, with 40% saying the reason was cost concerns.
• 64% of adults want health care providers to spend more time understanding them, with 49% of respondents reporting that providers do not always listen to them.
• Two-thirds of adults believe their health would improve if they worked regularly with a health care provider they trusted.
• 54% of adults would feel more comfortable working with a health care provider who shares their background.
• The same percentage said their health would improve if providers helped them figure out the health care system.

Related: Health care, post-COVID: New challenges and opportunities for patients and providers

"The system is costly and confusing and it takes too long to get needed care," said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, which conducted the survey. "The result is that people want to engage with it less, which can lead to even more health problems, both physical and mental."