Global healthcare survey looks at patient power
From doctors' waiting rooms to 'Dr Google', homeopathy to homemade
remedies, healthcare has many different guises around the world.
With economic and cultural factors shaping healthcare attitudes
and behaviour, this sector can be seen as a microcosm of society.
Synovate surveyed 9,642 people across Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Germany, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia,
Turkey and the United States about all things healthcare. Here's
what we found...
Can't go, won't go...
On average, how often do we take our ailments straight to
the doctor? For the majority of us around the world, it's
between one and three times a year.
However, more than a third of respondents in Russia, Serbia
and Turkey reported zero doctor visits for their own health
in the past year.
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The doctor will see you now
When we actually get there, how do we feel about our interactions
with our doctor?
Overall, a third of respondents globally think doctors don't make
enough time for them. The nationalities that complained the most
were Russians (57% say their doctors don't have sufficient time)
and Malaysians (55%), bearing out earlier comments concerning
overloaded healthcare systems.
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How alternative is 'alternative medicine'?
Respondents were also asked how they feel about more 'alternative'
treatments such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal remedies,
acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation and massage.
The vast majority (83%) had not visited any alternative medicine
practitioners in the last year.
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Keen on chemical or back to nature?
But that's only half the story. When asked whether they'd
ideally opt for natural medicine or drugs, our respondents
displayed some polarised views.
Overall, the slight majority were inclined to agree that natural is better. The
most fervent supporters were our Russian respondents,
with two thirds in agreement.
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Doctor's orders
It's a fact: the proliferation of new information sources has
given rise to an upsurge in 'patient power'. In some markets,
the doctor no longer has the last, or even first, word in
healthcare decision-making. Despite this, most markets have
some way to go before usurping the doctor's traditional position
of authority.
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Just ask 'Dr Google'
So if doctors are losing ground, just who (or what) is filling the
healthcare information gap?
At least one quarter of our respondents relied on primary sources
of advice other than doctors. To compound this, about half agreed
that they would only take the medication prescribed by their doctor
if their other research backed it up! Most passionate about this
were the Malaysians at 82%.
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