Diagnostic Testing Inequities in Men | What Factors Contribute?
More Programs and Publications Featuring Dr. Kyle Riding
In this program:
What factors contribute to diagnostic testing inequities in men? Medical laboratory scientist Dr. Kyle Riding discusses social and cultural factors that prevent men from getting regular health checkups and diagnostic tests, health impacts, and some ways to change male thinking about health care.
Transcript
Deandre White:
So what factors do you think contribute to the diagnostic testing and equities among males, and are there any particular medical conditions or diagnostic tests that you've noticed that have significant disparities with access and utilization for male patients specifically?
Dr. Kyle Riding:
So I'm going to talk to the ladies listening first, so the women I should say, I should be respectful and say the women talking first. Your assumptions about us never going to the doctor are so correct, and it is a problem, it is as a major problem. [chuckle]
Deandre White::
Especially with Black men. [chuckle]
Dr. Kyle Riding:
And there's data to support that. Yes, absolutely. So let me start by saying, men, we are more likely to get high blood pressure, be overweight, get certain cancers. And I'm not just talking about testicular or prostate. There are other cancers that we're at higher risk. We are more likely to develop heart disease. And some of this is attributable to the fact that we are more prone to unhealthy behaviors like smoking, drinking, abusing drugs, because of certain stereotypes related to masculinity. The other piece of this is we are less likely to seek medical care, even though when we get a cold, myself, many of us, myself included, can act like it is the end of the world, we will not go for medical care in many instances because that is asking for help, and that isn't necessarily aligned with the masculine archetype we have in society, so we avoid healthcare. So it's like an avoidance in general is the big disparity here, okay?
Deandre White:
Right.
Dr. Kyle Riding:
So all of this, the World Health Statistics in 2019 made this attempt to look at just life expectancy and disaggregate data on life expectancy in a clearer fashion between men and women, and look at it from socio economics. And what they found was that boys born in 2018 could expect to live to 68.6 years. This is a global statistics. So an average male born across the world in 2018 could expect to live to be 68.6 years. Girls born the same year could expect to live to 73.1 years, meaning there's a 4.5 year difference in life expectancy across the globe between men and women of those born in 2018. And this is not a biological issue, okay? What the World Health Organization found was that the inequity was stronger, meaning the difference in life expectancy was bigger in high income countries would suggest, there's not a biological link, like I said, it's a health behaviors link. It is following a masculine archetype. And, of course, all guys, all men do not follow that masculine archetype.
Deandre White:
Of course.
Dr. Kyle Riding:
And I'm doing what I just said not to do, which is apply an ecological fallacy to it, but we're talking disparity so we're talking social level here. Okay? On top of higher risk behaviors, like I mentioned, men not seeking care, men are embarrassed to seek care. Prostate exams can be de-masculating in some circles because of the process of the prostate examination, and what is involved with the physician putting their finger up the patient's rectum in that case. So it is important that we start maybe dismantling that archetype of masculinity a little bit in a way that promotes healthier behaviors. So I wouldn't say there's any particular diagnostic test. I would say it's a healthcare utilization issue in general for men more so than women because of those archetypes that are present.
Deandre White:
Yeah. And perhaps maybe in commercials or social media posts and just things that we look at that re-solidify that masculine archetype and all of these things, maybe we can soften that a little bit as a society and let male patients know that you're supposed to ask for help, especially when it comes to your medical care.
Dr. Kyle Riding:
There is a reason medical professionals get all the schooling, and it is to help people including men, so there's no...
Deandre White:
Yes. Everyone. [chuckle]
Dr. Kyle Riding:
Gentlemen, if you need a financial motivator, you are paying for...assuming your employer offers it, you're paying for health insurance through your employer, okay? Or your employers, it's a benefit from your employer if they cover everything, which lucky you. Use it. And you're also paying into Medicare if you're here in the United States. And if you're able to get access to Medicare when you reach retirement age, use it. Don't be afraid. Think of it as you've invested in a service, and now use it. Instead of looking at it as asking for help, look at it as, "I paid for this service. I'm going to use it."
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