From June 9th to June 15th, we here at Rochester Clinical Research would like to acknowledge Men’s National Health Week by bringing awareness to an often-overlooked issue, men’s health.
From social stigma to lifestyle choices, men have been known to live roughly 5 years less on average than women (WHO 2021). This is reflected by several health outcomes where men often experience greater challenges than women—such as higher rates of obesity, STIs, diabetes, and mental health issues.
A lot of these outcomes are influenced by preventable causes, such as smoking and lack of exercise, and most notably, a common reluctance among men to seek out healthcare services. This usually includes delaying regular checkups or downplaying health concerns when visiting the doctors (NIH 2022).
Why Do Men Tend to Avoid the Doctors?
A Heightened Sense of Self-Reliance
As revealed by several studies, men often feel as if relying on medical practitioners will undermine a general concept of masculinity- equating doctor’s visit to admitting weakness, which goes against expectations of being always perceived as strong. (AHA 2021)
Time Constraints
We live in a busy world, where taking time off work is deemed a luxury only taken when absolutely necessary, at the risk of not affording rent or groceries and other expenses. Men will often put off regular checkups due to clinic schedules conflicting with work (NIH 2022).
General Mistrust
Men’s health, both physical and mental, goes strikingly unreported due to a lack of trust in health care professionals. This mistrust is further deepened within Black Americans due to the long oppressive history found within the medical field (Commonwealth Fund, 2021).
How Can Participating in Clinical Research Help?
Clinical trials are centered around the drive to advance medical research and thus are a cornerstone of modern medicine. By participating in clinical research, you are taking the first step in empowering yourself and proactively taking charge of your health- ultimately working towards a longer, more prosperous future for yourself (SMD 2024).
Rochester Clinical Research offers a multitude of opportunities to stay ahead of potential health concerns by providing various studies that are at no cost to patients and require no insurance. Many of these studies cover topics that disproportionally affect men such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, prostate health, and weight management.
Flexible scheduling and compensation may also be provided for a number of our studies.
Your health matters, take the first step in preventative care.
Find a study today – https://rcrclinical.com/find-a-study/?_sfm_gender=Male
References
- World Health Organization: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/342703
- National Institutes of Health: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/why-should-i-participate-clinical-trial
- American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/06/15/misguided-masculinity-keeps-many-men-from-visiting-the-doctor
- Common Wealth Fund: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2021/jan/medical-mistrust-among-black-americans
- School of Medicine Dermatology: https://dermatrials.medicine.iu.edu/blogs/importance-of-clinical-research
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/about-clinical-studies
