Why People Do Not Attend Health Screenings: Factors That Influence Willingness to Participate in Health Screenings for Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Background: Chronic diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and preventative screenings are the most effective way to reduce the risk of developing a chronic disease. However, many individuals do not take advantage of preventative screening services for chronic diseases, especially in rural areas. In this study, we investigated (1) the factors that affect people’s willingness to participate in chronic disease screenings and (2) reasons why people have not undergone screening for a chronic disease in the past. Methods: Study participants (aged 30–65 of years age; n = 204) included individuals from four areas in northern of Taiwan that are considered to have a high chronic disease risk. To identify factors that influence willingness to attend health screenings, data were collected by questionnaire. Results: Over 50% of participants (58.33%; n = 119) indicated that they were unaware of community-based screenings for chronic diseases offered by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, which is one of the top-rated medical centers in Taiwan. Factors that increase willingness to participate in health screenings for chronic diseases include: (1) the convenience of screening site locations; (2) affordability; and (3) other considerations related to healthcare providers and diagnostic facilities (e.g., reputation, degree of modernization, etc.). Conversely, factors that reduce willingness to participate in health screenings include: (1) a belief that one was currently healthy; (2) lack of time; (3) a belief that screening procedures were too complicated to understand; (4) physical pain or negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, embarrassment, pain, and discomfort and, (5) having had a negative experience during a previous health checkup. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that health attitudes, sociodemographic factors, and other motivating and preventative factors affect peoples’ willingness to participate in health screenings. The motivating factors and barriers for people to participate in health screening for chronic diseases are very heterogeneous. However, understanding the barriers and motivating factors to health screening would mean that interventions with the purpose of decreasing people’s health risks and reducing deaths and disabilities caused by a chronic illness could be implemented.

Non-participation in a targeted prevention program aimed at lifestyle-related diseases: a questionnaire-based assessment of patient-reported reasons

“…Of the patients invited to take part in the study, about half declined. Consistent with many other studies focusing on health-check interventions [ 9 , 11 , 19 , 25 – 27 ], non-participants differed from the participants by being disproportionately male, younger, and with lower SES.…”

“…The questions were tested for comprehensibility, relevance, and coverage by target group representatives. Men and people with low educational level were purposely sampled as these subgroups of the general population are particularly likely to decline preventive interventions [ 9 , 11 , 13 , 19 ]. The recruitment strategy centered on Facebook and Instagram ads.…”

The role of context in shaping the relationship between physical health and suicide over the life course

“…Physical health problems are rarely the sole cause for a suicide and are often compounded by other issues. Chronic health problems can produce financial difficulties, to the extent that they prevent people from working consistently and/or require expensive treatments that are not covered by insurance ( Chien et al, 2020 ). Moreover, to the extent that financial problems cause significant stress, they themselves may be a factor in the subsequent development of chronic physical health problems.…”

Association of eHealth Literacy With Lifestyle Behaviors in University Students: Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Third, we recruited participants who had undergone health checkups. People who undergo health checkups are more health-conscious and have healthier lifestyles than those who do not [ 51 ]; the eHealth literacy level may have been even lower if students who did not undergo health examinations had participated in the survey. Fourth, several participant characteristics that can be associated with eHealth literacy, such as academic achievement [ 22 ], family income [ 22 ], educational level of parents [ 26 ], student health history [ 26 ], and internet skills [ 19 ], were not surveyed because of the practicality limits of administering the questionnaire at the health examination.…”