Despite huge advances in public health and attempts to address health inequalities, a persistent and under-recognised problem continues to undermine outcomes for a significant portion of the population: men are still far less likely than women to engage with preventive healthcare, to attend routine screenings, or to seek help from their GP. This is leading to many serious and treatable conditions being diagnosed late, when the options are fewer, the interventions more invasive, and the prognosis poorer.
The reasons behind this lack of engagement are quite well-documented.
Men, particularly those of working age, often cite lack of time, inconvenience, uncertainty around what tests are relevant, and a reluctance to seek help when feeling “well”, or unwell for that matter. Preventive healthcare has not traditionally been framed in a way that addresses men’s reluctance to engage and changes to address this have been slow in coming. Asking men to proactively book time off work, navigate a clinic-based system, and undergo testing for conditions they may not perceive as an immediate threat simply does not reflect the realities of their day-to-day lives and priorities.
