86% of people would monitor their own health if recommended by the NHS
Home Clinical Cardiovascular 86% of people wo. . . Almost nine-in-10 people (86%) would be willing to monitor at least one aspect of their health if recommended by the NHS, a new survey has found. . . .
HomeClinicalCardiovascular86% of people wo. . . Almost nine-in-10 people (86%) would be willing to monitor at least one aspect of their health if recommended by the NHS, a new survey has found. The poll of 4,270 UK adults also found that 79% of people had already used some form of self-monitoring tool, ranging from theirtracking blood pressureandblood sugarlevels to monitoring fitness, diet, eyesight, hearing and mental wellbeing. Between 70% and 94% of participants in the University of Manchester-led survey said they trusted the results produced by self-monitoring tools. Trust was highest in blood pressure (94%) and blood sugar (92%) results and lowest for skin conditions (70%) and eyesight (70%). The paper suggested this may be because a blood pressure reading is more definitive, whereas judging a skin condition or eyesight change is more subjective. More than three-quarters of people (78%) said they would be happy for their results to be sent automatically to their GP. People who used self-monitoring tools said the main benefits included increased awareness of their health, a greater sense of control, easier access to information, and more balanced conversations with healthcare professionals. However, some participants also reported feeling anxious, testing obsessively, feeling confused about their results, and not feeling motivated to continue monitoring. Between 14% and 38% of people, depending on the health issues being monitored, said they would take no action if self-monitoring identified a potential problem. Men, older adults, those living in areas of high deprivation, and those with lower education were less likely to be willing to monitor their health, the study found. The researchers said their findings,published inArchives of Public Healthlast week, suggest that ‘DIY health checks’ could help people identify problems earlier and improve preventative care. Lead researcher Professor Kevin Munro said: ‘Our findings show that self-monitoring of health is already a normal part of life for many people across the UK and that there is strong public enthusiasm for doing more of it in the future. More from The Pharmacist‘Self-monitoring has huge potential to support earlier detection of problems, encourage preventative action and help people take greater control of their health. ‘However, we must ensure that nobody is left behind and that these technologies are introduced in ways that are accessible, understandable and equitable for all sections of society. ’Prof Munro added that further research is needed to ensure self-monitoring can be used effectively and equitably alongside traditional clinical care. Michelle Riddalls, chief executive of the consumer healthcare association PAGB, welcomed the growing interest in self-monitoring. She said: ‘Self-monitoring can be a valuable part of self-care, helping people to build a better understanding of their health, and subsequently knowing when they may need further support or self-care. ‘The findings of this survey are consistent with PAGB’sself-care census 2025, which found that84% of adults would choose self-careas their first option for healthcare. ‘Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals, whocan play a key role in supporting peoplewho want to manage their own health. ‘Many community pharmacies already offer services such asfree NHS blood pressure checks, helping people to understand their results and signposting to further support when appropriate. ’However, she stressed the importance of using appropriate, properly regulated medical devices when self-monitoring to ensure accurate data and results. Ms Riddalls also reminded people using these medical devices to follow the instructions carefully. The University of Manchester study was part-funded by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator award given to Prof Munro and was supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre’s hearing health theme.