A joint study by Dialogue and Environics
Research reveals attitudes towards healthcare, employee benefits
and virtual care
MONTREAL, Jan. 11, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - New
research revealed that Canadians are planning to leverage
their employee benefits to take back control of their physical and
mental health in 2022. According to the second annual Canadian
Attitudes on Health and Virtual Care Report, 82% of Canadians
are committing to taking better care of themselves, and 39% plan on
using their employee benefits to help them translate their
new-found health and wellness consciousness into action.
The joint research initiative was conducted by Dialogue Health
Technologies Inc. (TSX: CARE) ("Dialogue"), Canada's leading health and wellness virtual
healthcare platform, and Environics Research, a market research
firm providing evidence-based solutions to real business problems,
to measure Canadians' attitudes towards virtual care and the
country's public healthcare systems.
56% of Canadians are more conscious, now than before, of their
health as a result of the pandemic. 25% of Canadians indicated that
the pandemic has worsened their overall health, while almost half
(45%) said that mental health concerns like stress and anxiety have
worsened as a result of the pandemic.
As Canadians look to make stronger commitments to their health
and wellness, 50% said that the pandemic has made it more difficult
to access quality healthcare. As COVID-19 creates additional strain
on public healthcare systems, 25% of Canadians claimed that it
typically takes four to seven days to see a healthcare professional
for a minor health concern, while 23% said it can take more than a
week. For Canadians concerned about their mental health, 52%
believed that they should be able to get same-day support for the
care they need. The reality is that 39% accessing mental health
support had to wait eight days or more before getting the necessary
support.
"We need to take advantage of this collective commitment to
health and wellness by providing Canadians with easier, more
convenient access to quality care," said Dr. Marc Robin, Medical Director, Dialogue.
"Leveraging online virtual care platforms like Dialogue offer
immediate multidisciplinary support and empower Canadians to be
more proactive with their physical and mental health."
Employee benefits were identified as a key driver for Canadians
working to get back on track with their physical and mental health
goals. However, many are still unclear about what benefits they
have, how to access them or whether they adequately meet their
healthcare needs. According to the study, 26% do not know how to
access their employee benefits. 24% of Canadians with benefit plans
indicated that the mental health support available in their benefit
plan is not sufficient, while 17% indicated that they aren't even
aware of what mental health resources are available in their
employee benefits plan.
Virtual care platforms like Dialogue are making it easier for
employers to ensure that employees have more streamlined access to
quality healthcare benefits and more. 82% of working Canadians
agreed that employers should provide virtual care services for
their employees, and about 70% said that virtual care can allow
them to be more proactive about their own health and mental health,
as well as their family's.
"The research shows that Canadians believe virtual care isn't
a pandemic-related trend or need, rather they see the long-term
benefits virtual care can offer them and their families in
maintaining health and productivity; as well as the benefits it
offers employers - reducing absenteeism and maintaining a
productive workforce." said Ahsan
Sadiq, Director of Market Insights, Environics
Canadians remain optimistic about how virtual care can help
improve their health and wellness, as approximately 70% agree that
"virtual care represents the future of healthcare," and 60%
confirmed they would likely use virtual care if it's available
through their benefit plan. For employers, this can have a positive
impact on absenteeism and productivity in the workplace, as 81% of
Canadians agreed that virtual care can help them avoid missing work
(or school).
About the Canadian Attitudes on Health and Virtual Care
Report
This annual Canada-wide survey was conducted to measure
Canadians' attitudes towards virtual care and the country's public
health care systems. The research was sponsored by Dialogue;
however, the sponsor of the research was not shared with
respondents, ensuring unbiased data collection.
The 2021 survey was completed by 1,760 Canadians representing
all age groups and all provinces (except Nunavut, Northwest
Territories and Yukon Territories) between September 8 and 22, 2021.
This is the second consecutive research survey; conducted with
the intention of measuring changes in Canadians' attitudes over the
past year, while also understanding the evolving health landscape
in Canada.
About Dialogue Technologies Inc.
Incorporated in 2016,
Dialogue is Canada's premier
virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable,
on-demand access to quality care. Through our team of health
professionals, we serve employers and organizations who have an
interest in the health and well-being of their employees, members
and their families. Our Integrated Health Platform™ is a one-stop
healthcare hub that centralizes all of our programs in a single,
user-friendly application, providing access to services 24 hours
per day, 365 days per year from the convenience of a smartphone,
computer or tablet.
About Environics Research
Environics Research is a
Canadian market research firm that provides organizations with
actionable, evidence-based solutions to real business problems.
Environics Research partners with clients to understand the
business challenges they face and leverage innovative and creative
solutions to generate understanding and insights. Founded in 1970,
Environics Research delivers evidence-based solutions to clients
working in a range of sectors and industries.
SOURCE Dialogue Health Technologies Inc.