Study Indicates Slower Visits to Physicians Among Latvians Experiencing Illness Symptoms
In a recent survey conducted between November 9 and 15, involving 1,003 respondents, it was found that the 18-29 age group stands out in postponing doctor visits. The Latvian Association of General Practitioners suggests that this trend may be due to a higher awareness of the impact of health loss on quality of life and income, as well as a better understanding of the risks and possibilities for preventing health issues.
The survey revealed that 16% of men and 17% of women never postponed seeing a doctor. However, 18.8% of men and 11.5% of women admitted to postponing a visit because they wanted to wait and see if they got better in time. Interestingly, among age groups, those aged 18-29 postponed a visit most often (56%).
On the other hand, the least likely to postpone a visit were those in the age group 40-49 years. Unfortunately, the survey did not provide specific statistics regarding the proportion of men and women in different age groups who did not visit a doctor this year and instead ignored symptoms hoping they would improve.
Another significant finding was that excessively long queues for admission to specialists were the second most significant reason for not visiting the doctor, with 23.9% of men and 29% of women citing this reason. Furthermore, 16% of men and 19% of women postponed a doctor's appointment more than three times.
The survey also highlighted that affordability is a concern, with 23.7% of men and 25.5% of women not getting checked out because they could not afford it, according to CSB figures for 2022. In response to this issue, 5.5 million euros have been allocated from the state budget this year to call patients who have not been to the general practitioner for a long time.
It's worth noting that the respondents were representative of Latvian residents aged 18-74 who use the Internet at least once a week. However, the survey did not provide specific statistics about those who have been called by the authorities but still chose to postpone their doctor's visits. The Association of General Practitioners indicated that the reasons for not visiting the doctor among those who have been called are varied, such as feeling good and not seeing the need for a visit, being too busy, using paid medical services, etc.
Lastly, the survey found that 28% of men and 24% of women responded that they had not experienced such a situation this year. However, 8% of the respondents could not provide a specific answer about postponing a doctor's visit.
In conclusion, the survey provides valuable insights into the reasons behind the trend of doctor visit postponement among Latvian residents. While the survey highlights concerns such as affordability and long queues, it also suggests that education and awareness about the importance of regular health check-ups could help address this issue.
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