“Who made this appointment for you?”
It’s a question Ryan Paulson, a primary care and family medicine physician at Bon Secours’ Paris View Family Practice, once jokingly asked his male patients. But the question increasingly revealed a telling pattern: Many were in his office because a loved one urged or scheduled the visit.
What Paulson sees in his practice reflects a trend. According to a national study by The Cleveland Clinic, 65 percent of men avoid seeking medical attention for as long as possible. “Males are much less likely to present to a medical provider in comparison to female patients. And they’re less likely to maintain that continuity of care as well,” he says.
“They are a little more predisposed to what I call ‘no problem thinking’ where if there’s a problem, I’ll get it fixed. But if there’s not a problem, it doesn’t warrant a visit,” he adds. “The whole issue with that is the point of primary care is an emphasis on preventative therapies instead of a problem-reaction approach.”
Stigma around masculinity and time constraints from busy schedules are the top reasons. “Men have this inherent sensation that they’re supposed to be strong and independent and know the answers, and that leads to them not wanting to be vulnerable,” he says. “Part of what you have to do when you’re seeing a medical provider, especially for a legitimate health issue, is you’ve got to surrender a bit.”
June, federally recognized as Men’s Health Month to heighten awareness of preventative medical care among men and boys, is a good time to schedule an annual check-up with a primary care provider.
That exam can cover a discussion of medical history, medications, and lifestyle choices; an order for necessary labs for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and testosterone levels, and an order for screenings for prostate and colorectal cancers if needed.
Paulson works to build a rapport with his new patients so they want to come back for continued care and tells them there’s no judgment for being honest about diet and exercise, alcohol and substance consumption, and more.
Finding a primary care provider you feel comfortable with is key to longevity, Paulson says, and he suggests to keep searching if you don’t establish an initial connection.
Providers “should be your first line of defense. The importance of what we do for primary care patients is we kind of advocate for them if they don’t advocate for themselves,” he adds.
Many of the providers at Bon Secours’ 24 primary and family care locations are accepting new patients. You can search doctors by zip code, accepted insurance plans, and more through the Find a Doctor website: bonsecours.com/find-a-doctor.
