Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How marriage affects men’s colonoscopy rates

Frederick Gandolfo, MD
Conditions
May 31, 2016
Share
Tweet
Share

Did you know that married men have a lower colorectal cancer mortality when compared to unmarried men? What about the fact that married men have higher rates of colorectal cancer screening? Interesting, right? In fact, studies showing the association between marriage and favorable behavior regarding colon cancer screening have been published as early as 2010.

More recently, a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine found that married men are 9 percent more likely overall to get a colonoscopy than unmarried men. What is more interesting is that specific characteristics of the marriage predicted which men were more likely to adhere to the screening guidelines and actually get a colonoscopy.

Both married men and married women were more likely to have a colonoscopy if their spouse had one in the last five years, or even if the spouse had ever had a colonoscopy in his or her lifetime. Couples with higher net worth were also more likely to have a colonoscopy. This is where the similarities between men and women end, however.

Interestingly, married men were more likely to have a colonoscopy if their spouse was college-educated, but the husband’s level of education did not affect his wife’s decision to have a colonoscopy. In fact, a woman’s colonoscopy rate, in general, is not influenced by much her husband does, or even if she has a husband (about 60 percent of women choose to get a colonoscopy, married or unmarried)!

Married men were more likely to have a colonoscopy if their spouse was “happy” with the marriage (65 percent colonoscopy rate) compared to men in marriages where their wives were “not happy” (51 percent colonoscopy rate). Also, a man who perceives a low level of support from his wife is less likely to have a colonoscopy. So basically, a man is more likely to take care of himself if his wife is happy, and if he feels supported.

Interpreted in a more Darwinian way, maybe this happens because a woman in a happy marriage wants her husband to stick around longer. Therefore, she encourages positive health behaviors (like getting a colonoscopy). Perhaps men in happy marriages are willing to take advice from their wives more readily, so that the harmony of the relationship is not disturbed?

In keeping with the theme of women being smarter than men, the authors found no association between the happiness of the marriage or the degree of support from their husbands for women who chose to get a colonoscopy. Basically, women are just better at taking care of themselves independently without the need for their husband’s approval, input, or coercion.

OK, so these are all interesting little factoids from this one study, but how does this affect the practicing gastroenterologist? Well, we all know that colorectal screening rates, in general, are woefully low. And as the authors suggest, it seems that many women are “gatekeepers” to their husband’s use of health care resources. Therefore, it would stand to reason that discussing colonoscopy and colon cancer screening recommendations when a man comes to your office with his wife would be an excellent use of your time as a gastroenterologist. If the man is in a happy marriage, chances are that he will book a colonoscopy soon, or risk hearing about it from his wife for the rest of his life!

Frederick Gandolfo is a gastroenterologist who blogs at Retroflexions.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A black doctor's perspective on perceptions by race

May 31, 2016 Kevin 2
…
Next

A study on medical errors inflames, but doesn't solve anything

May 31, 2016 Kevin 19
…

Tagged as: Gastroenterology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A black doctor's perspective on perceptions by race
Next Post >
A study on medical errors inflames, but doesn't solve anything

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Frederick Gandolfo, MD

  • White coats should no longer be worn by physicians

    Frederick Gandolfo, MD
  • Before starting your own practice, do these 3 things first

    Frederick Gandolfo, MD
  • Don’t forget this common trigger of cyclic vomiting syndrome

    Frederick Gandolfo, MD

Related Posts

  • How to increase your HPV vaccination rates

    Elizabeth Copeland, MD
  • A physician contemplates Medicare blended rates

    Ira Nash, MD
  • Hormone replacement therapy is still linked to cancer

    Martha Rosenberg
  • Why immunization rates should not be used as a quality indicator

    Niran S. Al-Agba, MD
  • We have a shot at preventing cervical cancer

    Lisa N. Abaid, MD, MPH
  • With poverty rates now highest in 50 years, America needs a poverty czar 

    Janice Phillips, PhD, RN

More in Conditions

  • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

    Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD
  • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

    Kristen Cline, BSN, RN
  • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

    George F. Smith, MD
  • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

    Maire Daugharty, MD
  • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

    Callia Georgoulis
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • The future of clinical care: AI’s role in easing physician workload

      Michael Wakeman | Tech

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How marriage affects men’s colonoscopy rates
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...