The healthcare system has traditionally limited its approach to the physical aspects of health (vitals, biometrics, etc.) But Americans want more than just physical exams: they are hungry for a holistic approach to healthcare. Today, Welltok released its Consumer Health POV 2017 report, a multi-generational survey of 2,000 full-time employees across the nation that revealed Americans struggle with financial, social and emotional health, and the causes and impacts vary by age, region, income and gender.
“More than 70 percent of what drives a person’s health status are environment and lifestyle, so it is imperative for population health managers to better understand their members, employees or patients as healthcare consumers, in order to effectively engage with them, provide support and drive change,” said Michelle Snyder, chief marketing officer for Welltok in a statement. “The survey results support the notion that health and wellbeing go well beyond physical health, and that individuals need more holistic support around their emotional, social and financial health as well.”
Other key findings from the report include:
– Americans are stressed out, but age matters. Most respondents under 45 reported taking more of an emotional hit from stress whereas those over 45 were more likely to be sleep deprived.
– Financial stability is a top priority across all demographics. Across all incomes, genders and ages, financial stability was a top priority when weighed against all aspects of health and well-being.
– Millennials need resilience training. That group reported being the most stressed of all age groups, and only 1 in 3 millennials ranked their generation as most resilient.
– Convenience, not cost, is the biggest barrier to healthy eating. 56% say the easiest food choices aren’t always the healthiest, and 49% don’t have time to buy and prepare healthy food.
Methodology
To gather the insights presented in Consumer Health POV 2017, Welltok, in partnership with meQuilibrium and Zipongo surveyed 2,000 full-time employees with equal representation across age, region, income and marital status. The survey was conducted online within the United States in August 2017.
