Half of Canadians delay in search of medical recommendation regardless of well being issues, Maple report reveals

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New report uncovers important obstacles stopping Canadians from accessing proactive care, resulting in delayed therapy and added healthcare system pressure

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the moment, Maple, Canada’s main digital healthcare platform, has launched a brand new report revealing that fifty % of Canadians delay in search of medical recommendation, even when confronted with well being issues. Titled “Well being on Maintain: The Have to Unlock a Proactive Care Future in Canada,” the report sheds gentle on the numerous obstacles Canadians face in accessing proactive healthcare amidst growing pressure on the system.

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Based mostly on a survey performed by Maple amongst members of the Angus Reid Discussion board, the first-of-its-kind report unpacks how obstacles to well timed, proactive care not solely negatively have an effect on well being outcomes however exacerbate the pressure on the healthcare system, resulting in extra expensive interventions, draining provincial and federal assets. It delves into systemic obstacles fueling alarming tendencies in Canadian healthcare, akin to a scarcity of entry to main care suppliers and the guilt many really feel over utilizing an overburdened well being system for non-urgent points.

Key survey findings embody:

• 81% of Canadians face obstacles to proactive care, with ladies extra prone to report earlier unfavourable experiences with healthcare practitioners and feeling dissuaded from in search of care as obstacles
• Almost half of all Canadians report not feeling in command of their very own healthcare, and solely 7% really feel they’ve full management
• 86% of Canadians who really feel a scarcity of management over their healthcare want they may see a physician extra typically
• 77% of Canadians flip to search engines like google and yahoo to self-diagnose critical signs as an alternative of consulting a healthcare skilled

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“Proactive care is crucial for bettering well being outcomes and easing the burden on our overstretched healthcare system, but most Canadians nonetheless face important obstacles to accessing it,” stated Brett Belchetz, CEO and co-founder of Maple. “Main care suppliers are working more durable than ever, with many going through burnout simply making an attempt to satisfy the calls for of reactive care, leaving little capability to concentrate on proactive care. With out entry to early intervention, extra critical situations develop, placing even larger pressure on each sufferers and the system. Expertise has the potential to bridge these gaps, permitting us to prioritize proactive care, cut back pressure on the system, and empower Canadians to take management of their well being.”

Based mostly on Statistics Canada information, at the very least 35 % of all deaths of these beneath 75 have been probably avoidable by way of proactive care efforts like life-style adjustments and vaccinations, efficient screening or early detection and ongoing therapy of situations¹. With one in 5 Canadian adults – 6.5 million – missing entry to a household physician², many Canadians look forward to a minor well being subject to grow to be extreme earlier than getting medical assist, resulting in important private and systemic prices.

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The report illustrates the extreme penalties of delayed care and the urgent want for change, underscoring a important alternative to remodel Canada’s healthcare system and empower a shift towards well timed, proactive care.

Entry the complete report right here.

Survey Methodology

These findings are from a survey performed by Maple from August 7 to August 9, 2024, amongst a consultant pattern of 1,510 on-line Canadians who’re members of the Angus Reid Discussion board. The survey was performed in English and French. For comparability functions solely, a likelihood pattern of this dimension would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 share factors, 19 instances out of 20.

About Maple

Maple’s digital care platform addresses Canada’s healthcare challenges by offering handy, high-quality care. Based in 2015 by a Toronto ER doctor, Maple gives 24/7 entry to main care suppliers and direct entry to specialists for appointments. With over 5 million Canadians served, together with all Nova Scotians by way of a provincially-funded digital care program launched in November 2023 – the platform additionally gives proactive care screenings and connects sufferers to a community of two,000 suppliers. Maple additional supplies customized options for employers and insurers. Extra data is accessible at getmaple.ca.

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Media Contact

Marlee Socket
Communications Supervisor, Maple
press@getmaple.ca

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¹ Preventable and treatable deaths in Canada have been calculated from Statistics Canada information: Untimely and probably avoidable mortality, Canada, provinces and territories (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/television.motion?pid=1310074401); Record of Circumstances for Avoidable Mortality and Mortality From Preventable and Treatable Causes Indicators (https://www.cihi.ca/websites/default/recordsdata/doc/conditions-for-avoidable-mortality-indicators-meth-note-en.pdf); Deaths and age-specific mortality charges, by chosen grouped causes (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.motion?pid=1310039401); and Avoidable Deaths (https://www.cihi.ca/en/indicators/avoidable-deaths).
² CMAJ: https://www.cmaj.ca/content material/196/19/E646

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