July 2019
Are your patients aware of the importance of men’s health screenings?
By: Dr. Derek J. Robinson, M.D., MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL)
In our society, the special health care challenges men face may tend to be overlooked or downplayed at times. In general, men have a shorter life span than women. African American men have the shortest predicted life span when compared to African American and white women and white men in the United States.1 Males are also often left out of the health care equation starting at a very early age. Having health exams for school age boys as well as for men can lead to the early detection and treatment of serious illnesses and disease. It is also important to consider what types of work men perform, as they bear the burden of over 93% of workplace deaths.2 This includes the lion’s share of resultant injury-related morbidities. These issues affect overall health and can serve as clues to the underlying causes of existing disease processes.
Thanks to health care providers like you, many men have likely avoided unnecessary premature death by getting routine blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks, as well as colonoscopies and prostate exams. However, now more than ever before, a concerted effort is required to address men’s health concerns through increased focus on health screenings. Colorectal cancer incidence rates are approximately 30% higher in men than in women, while mortality rates are approximately 40% higher.3 Additionally, 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented with screening.4
For men, the consequences of not receiving routine check-ups and taking care of their health can be staggering. A preventable and untimely death not only impacts the individual, but also leaves a hole in the lives of families that are left behind. For example, many fathers may look forward to walking down the aisle at their children’s weddings or holding their grandchildren. It would be a shame to miss out on these events, simply because they didn’t get a routine medical checkup or potentially life-saving screening test. While some men may not be proactive about their own health, reminding them they need to take care of themselves, so they can be there for their loved ones, may be helpful.
There are many things you can do to help promote greater awareness of men’s health issues. Talk to your patients and their families about the importance of early detection and treatment of chronic and often preventable illness. It may seem obvious, but many patients may not be aware that a diet richer in fruits and vegetables, getting regular exercise and taking time to de-stress are important prevention strategies. Continue to remind your patients that routine, thorough physical exams and health screenings are essential.
Encouraging patients to understand their risk factors for certain diseases, as well as considering potential health equity issues that may be a barrier to care, and guiding patients to options for testing that may be causing patient angst, may help improve screening numbers. Offering alternatives to in-office testing, when available, may be critical to engaging patients in early detection and treatment. BCBSIL is helping to educate our members and support completion of screenings, too. For example, through a limited pilot program, we are currently offering in-home Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kits to some of our members aged 51-75 years who did not meet colorectal cancer screening criteria. We appreciate your help in promoting completion of these in-home screenings, if our members come to you with questions.
As a provider, you play an incredibly important role in maintaining societal stability by performing screenings and providing health care services. Your voice in a patient’s life can serve to empower the patient to live a healthier, happier, and longer life. When reviewing overall health status for your patients, we encourage you to take the time to explain and discuss topics related to men’s health.
Do you have ideas you’d like to share to keep the conversation going? You’re always welcome to email our Blue Review editor with any thoughts or feedback.
Learn more about Dr. Derek J. Robinson
1 Lagging Life Expectancy for Black Men: A Public Health Imperative. Accessed at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4984780/
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics website, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2017. Accessed at https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0016.pdf
3 American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2017-2019. Accessed at https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2017-2019.pdf
4 Fight Colorectal Cancer. 2019 Fact Sheet. Accessed at https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/prevent/about-colorectal-cancer/facts-stats/
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. References to third party sources or organizations are not a representation, warranty or endorsement of such organizations. Any questions regarding those organizations should be addressed to them directly. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.