Men are generally more likely to report that they rely on doctors for advice.
When it comes to healthcare decisions, men and women may take slightly different approaches. Women are generally more accepting of alternative medicine than men and are also more likely to research different treatments before seeing a doctor.
About two-thirds (64%) of Americans say they are open-minded toward alternative medicine, according to data from YouGov profiles. Women were more likely than men to say they “strongly agree” (22% vs. 17%) or “somewhat agree” (47% vs. 41%) with the statement “I am open to spirit towards alternative medicine. Nearly a third (29%) of men disagreed.
Across generations, baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are most likely to say they are open-minded toward alternative medicine, with nearly seven in 10 (68%) agreeing. statement above. A nearly equal number of Gen Xers (67%) also agreed, while millennials were somewhat less likely to agree, although a majority (57%) still do.
Women are also more likely than men to research treatment options on their own before talking to their doctor. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of women say they do so, compared to 58% of men. 31% of men say they disagree with this approach.
Men are generally more likely to report that they rely on their doctor’s advice. Two-thirds (66%) of men agreed with the statement “I rely primarily on doctors for guidance on medical and health issues,” compared to 60% of women. 30% of women said they disagreed with this proposition.
Once again, Baby Boomers were most likely to agree with this statement, with 63% saying they generally agreed, compared to 57% of Gen Xers and Millennials.
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