Convincing men to see a doctor

Convincing men to see a doctor

Probably all of us know a stubborn man who won’t listen to your advice.  And if it has to do with seeing their doctor (if they have one), they likely dig their heels in even further. A 2019 survey by Cleveland Clinic proved this belief to be true.

This revealing online survey of more than 1100 men in the U.S., discovered that 72 percent of men would rather do household chores such as cleaning the bathroom or mow the lawn than go to a doctor. Even if a man does see their doctor, 20 percent of the men surveyed admitted they held back on certain issues by not being completely honest. Out of these men, only 50 percent said they would consider getting an annual check-up.

Healthcare and men often don’t see eye to eye. Women are quite comfortable seeing a doctor for routines visits such as annual pap smears and mammograms or the frequency of regular appointments when pregnant. Men are not used to having their personal space invaded. They view going to a doctor’s visit as wasted time and inconvenient.

How can men be convinced to get their annual check-up or go to the doctor if not feeling well? It may not be easy but it can be done.  Here are suggestions on getting the men in your life to see their doctor regularly putting their health at the top of their list:

Remove barriers

One takeaway from the survey was the importance of making men’s ability to see a doctor convenient for them. Find doctors who offer virtual visits, schedule appointments outside of work hours so they don’t have to take time off from their jobs, or have them go to participate in a local health screening.  Removing the stigma of seeing a doctor as a sign of weakness can literally save a man’s life.

Make it easy

Start by scheduling the appointment for him. If he already has a doctor and he likes him, start there.  If he does not, make recommendations for him.  Choose a doctor he can trust and who you think would be a good fit. When making the appointment, schedule it at the time of day and day of the week convenient for him and then offer to go with him if he wants you to. 

Help him be prepared

If it’s been awhile since he’s seen a doctor, help him make a list of questions he wants answered.  He can list abnormal symptoms he’s been having, his medical history and that of his family. Remind him to be open and honest with the doctor about everything including his eating, exercise, and sleeping habits, and smoking and alcohol consumption. It’s important he think of all things that could be affecting his health so his doctor has the best information possible.

Tell him why his health is a priority

Men are creatures of habit.  They like to work and if they take time away from their career by seeing a doctor, they may not see the value in doing that. But a good reason convincing him why he should see his doctor is to keep himself healthy, making it a priority for him and the family. If he neglects his health, then he’ll eventually have to spend much more time away from his job and family than if he had gone to regular visits in the first place. It is also important to remind him that some health problems can go unnoticed. For example, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or prostate problems may not produce significant symptoms, but could require treatment to prevent them from turning into a more serious issue.

Use a common sense approach

Let him now that putting off a doctor visit until he is in pain or at an advanced stage of a disease may make treating his condition more difficult or costly.

What not to do

The worst thing you can do turning off a man from seeing his doctor is to continually nag him about it. Nagging is never a good idea – it’s better to help men see that being healthy is more attractive and more masculine. And if he does go and allows you to be there at the same visit with him, do not speak for him.  He needs to be the one to establish a relationship with his doctor thereby forming a trust between them for creating an effective doctor-patient bond. Your job is to sit and listen, only speaking up if there are any discrepancies that need to be clarified. 

Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy.  Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.