Busy Schedules And Embarrassment Stop UAE Men From Getting Health Checks

November 2019

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Survey Shows Men “Shy Away” From Discussing Their Health

The frantic pace of life in the UAE and feelings of embarrassment are preventing a significant number of men from paying proper attention to their health, according to new research revealed today.

A survey on attitudes to men’s health has revealed that more than 40% of men have never been for a general health checkup with a doctor when they were not already experiencing symptoms. In addition, more than half of men (57%) responded that they would only visit a doctor if they thought they were suffering from a serious illness.

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The survey, which was commissioned by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as part of its ‘MENtion It’ campaign, surveyed the attitudes of more than 1,000 people living in the UAE.

“The results of this survey align with what we see every week at the hospital. Some men’s reluctance to get regular checkups or discuss health concerns can mean that illnesses go undetected and problems left to develop. Early detection of disease saves lives and we hope this campaign encourages people to have regular check-ups,” says Dr. Zaki Almallah, a urologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Asked why they are reluctant to consult a doctor about their health, men responded that they are too busy (23%), scared (21%) or that they are simply not worried about their health (15%). The survey also found that men are twice as likely to be too embarrassed to visit the doctor as women, with 12% of men reporting embarrassment compared to just 6% of women.

Reflecting the fact that men tend to keep their health issues private, fewer than half of men surveyed said they discussed their health concerns with their doctor (49%), wife (43%) parents (38%) or friends (32%).

“Men tend to feel a great burden when it comes to health issues. There is pressure to live up to the idea of being strong, independent and to fill the role of provider and protector of their family. In practice, this means they shy away from mentioning health problems until they have no other choice,” continues Dr. Almallah.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is running a campaign to encourage men to be more open about their health. The hospital is encouraging men who experience symptoms to ‘MENtion It’ to a doctor. The campaign is aimed at getting men to break the silence about their health and get regular check-ups, helping them detect health problems before they lead to further complications.

To find out more about men’s health challenges and how to approach them, visit mention-it.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae

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