The skinny: Why men won't get healthcare

Why don't more men see a doctor for regular check-ups? They fear disrobing. That's got to be it! Why else would someone ignore simple tests or a little advice that could ultimately save their lives or at least make them feel a whole lot better?

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, along with the Advertising Council, are poking a little fun at the male species while trying to draw attention to the fact that men are 25% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year. And they pay a price for such waffling, with higher death rates from heart disease, cancer and lower-respiratory diseases. A new public service campaign, titled "Real Men Wear Gowns," urges men 40 and older to get regular, preventive healthcare such as cholesterol checks, blood pressure readings and BMI measurements.

"...despite their increased health risks men aren't taking preventive steps and are often only visiting doctors when they experience symptoms," says Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the AD Council.

The campaign includes television, radio, print and Web public service announcements showing men wandering about their daily lives wearing nothing but hospital gowns. You know, those thin gowns with little ties in the back that flap open and, well ... Maybe if someone designed better exam-room clothing, more men would get checkups. How about a guaranteed-no-clothes-off exam?

-- Shari Roan

Photo: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[due for a physical]

I am one of those men who doesn't go to the doctor often enough, and fear of disrobing has nothing to do with it. I enjoy being at the doctors' office. I enjoy being fussed over and cared for. I just dread the whole process -- calling for an appointment, trying to figure out what my insurance covers this year and what it doesn't cover, trying to explain my insurance to the doctor's office so that I don't end up paying for "routine" but unnecessary tests, trying to figure out out how much the visit is going to cost me, trying to figure out how much work I will miss due to the appointment, and how I will make up for it, or how I will explain my absence. It's the hassle that keeps me away.

[Bob Lopez]

Its not undressing that scares men, it is the finger prostate test

[jim jaffe]

this seems to link the fact that men visit doctors less often with their greater death rate from selected chronic diseases. is there any evidence of such a causal link -- for instance that the subset of men who visit the doctor as often as women live longer?

I'm not aware of any data that shows a correlation between visiting the doctor more often and better health. my intuition suggests that sick folks would visit more often.

what am I missing here?

[healthy guy]

If men fear disrobing then why do their wives get pregnant?? Maybe men don't go to check-ups because their afraid of going to female doctors or they can't make an appointment or don't have enough money. Maybe you should take all factors in place before writing a rude remark such as fear of disrobing. Maybe you think men are afraid of disrobing because women do it so easily. Next time don't be so offensive.

[Matt]

Terrible article. Disrobing has nothing to do with lack of healthcare for men. The author has no scientific data to back up this article. This is a terrible and erroneous article.