Canadians becoming "healthcare consumers"
Survey participants report seeking information, requesting second opinions and gathering information from sources other than their doctors.
By on Jun 20, 2006Survey participants report seeking information, requesting second opinions and gathering information from sources other than their doctors.
Ipsos polled 1,500 employee health benefit holders across Canadaon their views about the public health system, employer-sponsored health benefit plans and the willingness of plan members to play a greater role in their own healthcare.
The majority of Canadian plan members report being active in decisions that affect their healthcare. In fact, 61% say that when it comes to their healthcare, they look up their own information, question their doctor and seek second opinions based on what they'sve learned.
It's the tip of the health consumerism iceberg, says Anthony May, a member of the Sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey Advisory Board and an employee of Manulife Financial in Vancouver. People are starting to take ownership, at least at an information level. It's the first real evidence that we have seen that demonstrates this shift in personal responsibility when it comes to health outcomes.
Although the survey reveals that 63% of participants are obtaining health information from healthcare professionals, the Internet and other sources of information are quickly becoming alternative healthcare resources in Canada. More than 40% of respondents report regularly accessing the Internet for information to help them make healthcare decisions, while 29% rely on the media and 16% routinely receive information from their employers.
Perhaps most importantly for pharma, the survey reveals that participants are seeking reputable sources of information for health and preventative strategies. In particular, 77% say they are looking for educational programs that focus on conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma and obesity.
In addition, 63% say that providing coverage for cutting-edge drugs should be a very high or somewhat high priority for employer plans.
Pharma has a unique opportunity to help health plan administrators develop and offer the kinds of reputable healthcare information programs Canadians are asking for. But Canadians aren'st likely to fooled by covert adverts, so the industry should count on getting only one chance to offer truly unbiased, valuable healthcare information to Canadian consumers.
It's now or never.