Health Funds Explore Incentives to Boost Men‘s Preventative Care Uptake
Vienna, Austria – Austrian health insurance funds are actively seeking strategies to increase men’s participation in preventative healthcare, acknowledging a disparity in early engagement compared to women. While women routinely access preventative care through gynecological visits, men often delay seeking medical attention until problems arise, potentially hindering early detection of serious illnesses.
Andreas Krauter, medical director of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), highlighted this difference, noting that men often face a later introduction to preventative screenings like prostate cancer checks. “At the age of 50, men suddenly have to be examined for prostate cancer, and this fear of being examined rectally with a finger,” Krauter stated. The ÖGK now routinely determines the PSA value – prostate-specific antigen – through blood tests, with elevated levels potentially indicating prostate changes. statistically, one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime.
The ÖGK plans to launch campaigns and utilize personal letters to raise awareness of available preventative examinations, coinciding with “Movember,” the annual men’s health month dedicated to raising awareness for prostate and testicular cancer, and men’s health generally.
Research lead by Ursula Griebler from the Danube University Krems suggests several barriers to male participation in health promotion programs. These include perceptions of content as “too feminine,” lack of awareness of available local offers, insufficient motivation, and time constraints. Griebler also noted a reluctance among some men to participate,associating it with “showing weakness because they cannot take care of their health themselves.”
However, Griebler’s study indicates potential solutions. Monetary incentives, such as the “health hundred” offered by the social insurance for the self-employed (SVS), are seen as effective for certain demographics. Furthermore, testimonials from friends and acquaintances, and direct dialog via letters, can significantly motivate men to engage with preventative healthcare options.
“I think it’s about the awareness that ther is little you can do with such serious illnesses if you recognize them too late,” Krauter emphasized, adding that early detection of prostate disease frequently enough allows for a return to a normal life through surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
