New Aetna Study Finds Consumers Want Easier Ways to Manage Their Health Goals
June 18 2018 - 10:24AM
Business Wire
Today, Aetna (NYSE: AET) released the results of its inaugural
Health Ambitions Study, which explores consumers’ health goals and
the relationship between consumers and providers in the evolving
health care system. The study finds that people, particularly
women, are paying attention to their holistic health, as they seek
resources that better support both health and wellbeing.
If given an extra hour in the day, 60 percent of people said
they would spend it on mental and physical wellbeing activities (67
percent of women compared to 44 percent of men). Forty-five percent
of women say they have a stress reduction health goal, compared to
28 percent of men.
Still, 50 percent of women say they are very likely to take
their doctors’ recommendations, compared to 61 percent of men,
highlighting an opportunity to improve how the industry engages
women on their health journeys.
“Women are often the primary caregiver for their families,” said
Aetna President Karen Lynch. “So, when it comes to health and
lifestyle goals, women need more support to feel confident in their
health decisions for themselves and others. We recognize the value
of highly-personalized, local, consumer-centric care, and we
believe we are in a unique position to help transform the health
system to better meet the needs of all consumers.”
The Health Ambitions Study finds that fewer women believe that
their doctors understand their health needs, as 70 percent of women
say their doctors are aware of their lifestyle habits, compared to
81 percent of men.
The study reveals the importance of providing simple, accessible
solutions to help consumers achieve their health goals. Overall,
respondents say it is very important that their doctors talk in a
way they can easily understand (77 percent), have office
appointments when they need them (66 percent) and offer access to
other health care professionals to coordinate care (59
percent).
Gender Differences in Health ExperiencesMen say they are
more confident that doctors understand their health lifestyles.
More than three-quarters (80 percent) of men say their doctor is
familiar with their health goals, compared to 65 percent of
women.
Caring for the Sandwich GenerationThe study illuminates
the health and wellness needs of the Sandwich Generation—those who
manage the health needs of both their children and their parents.
Encouragingly, nearly all consumers in the Sandwich Generation say
their doctors spend enough time answering questions (85 percent),
offer access to other health care professionals (84 percent) and
have office appointments when needed (77 percent).
Mental Health & Stress SupportWhen it comes to
supporting holistic health, consumers want access to resources that
address mental health and stress reduction. More than one-third say
they have a stress reduction (40 percent) or a mental health goal
(36 percent).
Doctors play a critical role in the network of support, with
respondents saying it is important that their primary care
physician be familiar with their mental health history (86 percent)
and ability to manage stress (84 percent).
Transformation of CareThe study further reveals a clear
opportunity to transform the way health care is delivered in the
U.S. Doctors are seeking greater access to community and health
resources to better serve their patients. In fact, over half of
physicians (54 percent) say that mental health counselors are very
important, yet only 7 percent say they have excellent access to
this vital community resource.
Other notable findings of the survey include:
- Younger consumers are turning to
digital tools, more than older consumers, to improve communication
with their doctor: 37 percent of those aged 18-34 say digital
messaging and 35 percent say virtual office visits would be
valuable, compared to only 32 percent and 17 percent, respectively,
of people aged 65 and older.
- While consumers highly rated privacy
(80 percent) and data security (76 percent) as important aspects of
health care, health costs were also a concern. Seventy-three
percent of consumers indicated that the cost of care is very
important. This ranks ahead of getting personalized care (71
percent) and coordination among healthcare providers (68
percent).
- Providers in value-based care models
have greater access to community resources than providers who are
not involved in value-based care models. For example, 61 percent of
those in value-based care models say they have very good or good
access to nutritionists, compared to just 46 percent of physicians
not in value-based care models.
For more information on the Health Ambitions Study and the ways
in which Aetna is meeting the health care needs of consumers, go to
https://news.aetna.com/health-ambitions-survey.
MethodologyAetna’s inaugural Health Ambitions Study,
conducted in December 2017, included two distinct surveys fielded
by Market Measurement, a custom market research firm. The consumer
survey comprised 1,000 responses from consumers 18 and older. The
physician survey comprised 400 responses divided among 200 primary
care doctors and 200 specialists, all of whom have at least two
years of experience.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care
benefits companies, serving an estimated 40.3 million people with
information and resources to help them make better informed
decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of
traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance
products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental
and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities,
Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation
administrative services and health information technology products
and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups,
individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health
plans, health care providers, governmental units,
government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more
information, see www.aetna.com and learn about how Aetna is helping
to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180618005791/en/
Aetna Media Contact:Ethan Slavin, 860-
273-6095SlavinE@aetna.com
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