Autonomy in health management

Young people entering adulthood are learning to manage their health independently, including scheduling medical appointments on their own, researching symptoms online, seeking advice from parents, or consulting artificial intelligence. However, an investigation reveals a paradox: care is often initiated by the appearance of a problem, while some known diseases still seem distant to them.

Transition to adulthood and health

Leaving the family environment, pursuing studies, and entering the workforce: at 18 years old, autonomy is gradually built. Health is not excluded from this transition. According to a survey by OpinionWay for Pfizer, more than one young adult out of two now manages their own medical appointments. However, the step between knowing that a vaccine is recommended and feeling personally concerned can sometimes be difficult to take.

Scheduling medical appointments

The first concrete sign of this autonomy: 55% of 18-24-year-olds most often schedule their own medical appointments. Parents continue to handle this for 23% of them, while another close person intervenes in 12% of cases.

Age-related changes in autonomy

The evolution is clear with age: 45% of 18-20-year-olds organize their own appointments, compared to 62% of 21-24-year-olds. However, becoming autonomous does not mean managing without others. More than one young person out of two schedules an appointment following a recommendation: 35% on the advice of a close person and 20% on the initiative of a healthcare professional.

Primary care physician as first contact

When a health problem occurs, the primary care physician remains the first contact mentioned by 23% of young people, just ahead of parents (20%). Other healthcare professionals follow (13%).

Sources of health information

However, when it is simply a matter of answering a health-related question, habits change. The primary care physician, parents, and the Internet are cited equally, at 16%, as the first source of information. Artificial intelligence follows closely, with 15% of responses.

Complementing traditional references

Young people therefore do not abandon traditional references: they complement them.