Interested to know more about New Zealanders’ attitudes and behaviours in relation to their healthcare? We’ve included a summary below from our latest Healthy Futures research.

Where New Zealanders go for health advice

While healthcare professionals remain the main source for New Zealanders seeking health information, social media is increasing in popularity among younger people and Pasifika. Friends and whānau are particularly important for NZ Māori and females when seeking health advice.

Swing to social

Significantly more younger New Zealanders (18-49 year-olds) and Pasifika people are favouring social media and influencers for information on health and wellbeing. This highlights the opportunity for healthcare professionals to communicate through a mix of channels to reach more New Zealanders.

Seeking trusted health advice when feeling unwell

Primary care health professionals (GPs) remain the most trusted source for people seeking help when they are physically unwell - particularly for people with a long-term health condition. When younger New Zealanders feel physically unwell, they are more likely to ask friends and family / whānau than go to a healthcare professional.

Accessing timely healthcare

Most New Zealanders will seek treatment immediately or within a day or two of feeling physically unwell.

When looking at the timeliness of people seeking treatment by income level, more high-income earners are waiting more than two days to be seen by a health professional and more people in the lower income group are choosing not to seek treatment at all.

Visiting the doctor and dentist

Most New Zealanders will seek timely treatment when feeling unwell or suffering from dental pain, although two in 10 of us are choosing not to seek treatment. There has also been a decline in the number of people seeking treatment from a GP from previous years.

Barriers to accessing healthcare

Cost remains the main barrier to seeking treatment, particularly for 18-49 year olds. Wait times and the unavailability of healthcare professionals are increasingly the reasons why people delay or don’t seek treatment.

Barriers to accessing dental treatment

Cost remains the main barrier for New Zealanders seeking dental treatment, particularly for those under the age of 50. Not being covered by medical insurance is the second most common barrier, closely followed by a fear of the dentist.