Over a quarter of Americans are not up to date on health screenings

Key takeaways:

• One-third of respondents, especially younger and Hispanic adults, reported difficulties accessing health care.
• Additionally, 40% of respondents had to travel over 10 miles to receive care.

Many adults in the United States are behind on their health screenings and immunizations, according to new survey data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

The survey also revealed a growing proportion of U.S. adults favor legislation that would allow patients to choose nurse practitioners (NPs) as their primary care providers.

“The first step toward a healthier America is to ensure that every patient can access the recommended health checks, evidence-based screenings and immunizations they need,” American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) President Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP, said in a press release. “Adopting policies that remove barriers to care and ensure all patients can access the preventive screenings and health services they need is essential to improving the health of our nation.”

Ferrara added that the data “underscore the ongoing crisis of access to primary health care, which cuts across many communities.”

According to the HHS, preventive care can help detect health problems early, when treatment is most effective, or prevent diseases altogether.

Despite these benefits, 27% of adults that participated in the AANP’s 2024 State of Primary Care in America survey reported not being up to date on immunizations and health screenings.

The survey also showed that 31% of respondents who did see a provider for primary care opted for telehealth or convenient care clinics at pharmacies or other retailers. The AANP noted that this finding is consistent with 2023 data, which showed that over 25% of adults had waited more than 2 months for an appointment with a health care provider (HCP).

One-third of respondents, especially those who were younger, lived in rural areas or were Hispanic, reported difficulty accessing health care services.

Meanwhile, 40% of respondents said they travel more than 10 miles to get care.

Those who traveled over 10 miles to receive care were more likely to report accessibility challenges compared with those who did not have to travel as far (42% vs. 23%).

According to the AANP, 73% of respondents supported legislation that would make it easier to choose an NP as a primary care provider, which is up from 67% in 2022 and 61% in 2021. The growth in support was largest among Black adults, younger adults and those living in rural areas.

Care provided by NPs has increased rapidly, as Healio previously reported that NPs and nurse assistants now manage one in every four U.S. health care visits.

NPs may improve access to care, allow more freedom when choosing a HCP and address the ongoing health care workforce shortage, but practice expansions remain controversial because of the potential for lower quality of care and higher costs.

“Patients are already choosing NPs, as proven by more than 1 billion patient visits annually,” Ferrara said. “We urge lawmakers to enact legislation that removes restrictions on NP-delivered health care, giving patients timely access to preventive and ongoing care services. Policy changes are key to strengthening the health of our nation.”

References:

• New poll shows a large number of patients are not getting health screenings. Available at: https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/new-poll-shows-a-large-number-of-patients-are-not-getting-health-screenings. Published Oct. 7, 2024. Accessed Oct. 17, 2024.
• Prevention is still the best medicine. Available at: https://health.gov/news/202401/prevention-still-best-medicine. Published Jan. 26, 2024. Accessed Oct. 17, 2024.