Nearly two thirds (64%) of Irish women rely on Google for information about menopause and perimenopause while 40% say they have never spoken to a doctor about their symptoms – National Health Watch Report by Webdoctor.ie

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Key insights into physical, mental and environmental health trends experienced by the Irish public revealed in new National Health Watch Report by Webdoctor.ie

 

  • Four in ten (39%) have considered getting tested for ADHD and/or autism
  • Nearly two thirds (61%) said they have had concerns about their mental health in the past or need to manage their mental health on an ongoing basis
  • 70% say they don’t smoke, vape or use an e-cigarette
  • Two thirds of us (67%) would prefer to engage with an online doctor or prescription service instead of an in-person GP visit

 

Nearly two thirds (64%) of people rely on Google for information about the perimenopause and menopause, according to the 2024 National Health Watch Report conducted by Webdoctor.ie, Ireland’s award-winning online GP service.

The report, which surveyed 1,072 people across the country, reveals key insights into how health issues are affecting the nation and how people intend to deal with them. Topics covered include physical health, mental health, environment and lifestyle as well as attitudes towards traditional and digital healthcare services.

Perimenopause and Menopause: The report highlights that people are relying on Google (64%) and family and friends (55%) for information about perimenopause and menopause. 40% of women say they have never spoken to a GP about their symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, indicating that many of those experiencing symptoms may not feel comfortable discussing it with a GP. 70% stated they would feel more comfortable seeking medical advice or treatment for menopause symptoms via an online doctor or prescription service as opposed to seeing a GP face to face. 97% of women say a dedicated menopause service would be beneficial for those experiencing perimenopause and menopause.

ADHD and Autism: In recent years, there’s been an increase in the awareness of and diagnosis of ADHD and autism. While 39% of those surveyed said they have considered testing for ADHD and/or autism, there are a number of barriers to assessment, including high costs (66%) and long waiting lists (32%). 24% say they would be nervous about what the potential results might be. Over three quarters (79%) of respondents said that if given the option, they would prefer to complete an online assessment as opposed to an in-person assessment.

Mental Health: 61% said they have had concerns about their mental health in the past or need to manage their mental health on an ongoing basis. According to the survey, 66% of those surveyed are planning to prioritise their mental health in the next six months, a decrease from last year (77%). 17% said they plan to engage with a professional mental health service while one third (34%) said they will use mindfulness and meditation apps, while 24% will speak to friends and family more. 90% of those surveyed would feel comfortable receiving treatment via an online consultation for mental health.

Smoking and Vaping: 70% of those surveyed said they had never smoked, vaped or used an e-cigarette, with a further 9% saying they only smoke tobacco or nicotine products when consuming alcohol. When asked if they consider e-cigarettes or vapes to be less damaging to health than regular cigarettes, opinion was divided – with nearly one third (32%) saying they are less damaging, nearly one third (32%) saying they are worse than cigarettes and just over one third (36%) saying they consider the damage to be the same.

Dermatology: The most common skin conditions among those surveyed were eczema (29%), psoriasis (28%) and acne (26%). Many people (45%) relied on online research for information regarding which products or medication to use to treat their condition. 30% hadn’t sought advice from a GP or dermatologist, as they felt it was too expensive (13%) and had long wait lists or no availability (8%). 88% said they would feel comfortable receiving dermatological care from a GP via an online consultation service. Webdoctor.ie recently launched their dermatology service, where patients can seek advice for various skin conditions via secure video consultations and image submissions.

Nutrition: Three quarters (75%) of those surveyed by Webdoctor.ie said they feel they have a balanced diet giving them all the nutrients they need. 65% said they use online resources for information about vitamins or supplements. People cited overall health (50%), a desire to increase their energy (36%) and hair or skin health (17%) as their top reasons for taking supplements or vitamins. 83% said they would prefer an online consultation regarding diet and nutrition advice.

Children: 18% of respondents with children stated that they have had to wait more than a week to get an in-person appointment for their child. 5.5% of these had to wait more than two weeks. 60% said they would prefer to seek treatment for their child via an online GP service as it’s quicker to get an appointment (81%), more convenient than taking a sick child out of bed (59%) and cheaper than in-person GPs (36%).

Traditional Vs Virtual GP Preference: 67% would prefer an online doctor or prescription service instead of an in-person GP visit, a 5% increase from last year. People find it difficult to access in-person GP healthcare services, for reasons such as availability (62%), cost (42%) and location, in that the nearest GP clinic is too far away (9.2%). Those who used an online GP service said they found it quicker and more efficient (55%) and more cost effective (22%).

 

Commenting on these findings, Dr Marie Cassidy, Medical Director with Webdoctor.ie said:

‘The National Health Watch Report is a really interesting insight into the attitudes of the Irish public on a range of health related topics. It’s encouraging to see the positive attitudes expressed and the continued user growth of Webdoctor.ie online GP services, with patients saying they are happy to use these services for a range of medical conditions, including both physical and mental health conditions. At this time of year, bricks and mortar health care providers are often overwhelmed by requests for consultations relating to winter illnesses such as flu, colds, and other viral infections.  Those surveyed are confident and happy to use online GP services such as Webdoctor.ie as we can provide convenient and timely access to GP care. ‘

 

About Webdoctor.ie:

Webdoctor.ie, part of Medihive group, is an Irish-based, premium health technology company founded by healthcare and IT professionals who have conducted over 250,000 medical consultations since the business was founded in 2014. The organisation helps Irish patients who want to access medical assistance at a time that suits them by providing a user-friendly digital service that saves time and money.

With 55+ Irish Medical Council registered doctors on its team, patients can avail of same or next-day appointments on Webdoctor.ie. The company’s medical questionnaires are classified as CE-marked medical devices, making them one of the only EU-certified telehealth providers in Ireland. With a 4.9/5 trust rating on Trustpilot, Webdoctor.ie is the top rated online GP service and home healthcare service provider on the platform. Medihive has been recognised as one of Ireland’s fastest-growing tech companies and has been included in Deloitte’s prestigious Fast 50 Technology Awards for three years consecutively.

 

 

 

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