Visiting doctors seems an unpleasant experience for African American men. A majority of them said they do not go to the doctor because visits are stressful and physicians dont give adequate information on how to make prescribed behavior or lifestyle changes, a new University of Michigan study shows.
When they did go, the majority of the 105 men questioned said they disliked the tone physicians used with them. When those men did visit the doctor, they said it was because they were seeking test results or their family encouraged them to go.
Men often said they knew they needed to lose weight, change eating habits or become more physically active before visiting the doctor. They hoped the doctor would help them figure out how to make those behavioral and lifestyle changes without sacrificing time with spouses and children. The men in the focus groups explained that adopting healthy behaviors was more complex than simple motivation and that doctors didnt understand that a healthier lifestyle meant the men had to give up other meaningful activities.
Thats usually not the story thats told, said Derek Griffith, assistant professor in the U-M School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study. Julie Ober Allen and Katie Gunter of U-M SPH are co-authors.
Too much emphasis is on the things that African American men dont do, rather than exploring why they dont do them. The reality is that many men want to adopt healthier lifestyles but face significant challenges beyond health insurance and the cost of care. They are concerned about their health and are more knowledgeable about the changes they need to make than they are often given credit for, Griffith said.