Survey: Women More Likely to Receive Misdiagnoses and Unsatisfactory or Poor-Quality Care

According to results of Soliant Health’s 2024 State of Healthcare Report, women were more likely (66.1%) than men to receive a misdiagnosis in the last 2 years. Additionally, among the survey takers who reported that receiving a misdiagnosis in 2024 was a concern, most were women (63.5%).¹

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Women were also more likely (65.3%) to report receiving unsatisfactory or poor-quality care as a concern in 2024. Approximately 31.8% of male respondents reported receiving a high level of care within the past 2 years compared to 21.9% of women. The most common concern for women is the high wait times to receive care and men report the cost of health care as a concern.¹

In addition, the report had also identified the states that offer the best health care for women. These data were gathered from female respondents who reported on the following: received care in the last year collecting information on patient satisfaction and quality of care, wait times for care, misdiagnosis prevalence, specialized care affordability, and specialized care access. Based on these results, women in Vermont reported having the best experiences in health care. They also had the lowest rate of women who noted experiencing unsatisfactory or poor-quality of care. Other states that were reported to have strong health care services included Oregon, North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Alabama.¹

Alternatively, women in Montana reported having the worst health care experience. Montana had the highest rate of women who reported receiving a misdiagnosis and women who experienced high wait times before receiving care. In addition, Wyoming and South Dakota were tied for the rate of women who reported having difficulties accessing affordable specialized care. Other states in which women reported poor health care include Utah, Nevada, Hawaii, and Virginia.¹

In addition to the reported disadvantages women face when navigating health care, the survey had also reported perspectives of health care professionals and patients that included employee and patient satisfaction. According to the results, there was a reported decrease in job satisfaction from 2021 to 2023 (54.4%) and general dissatisfaction with health care experience (36.3%) by health care professionals and patients. For health care professionals, common issues included staff shortages (26.31%), burnout or worsening mental health (18.14%), and long hours or few days off during peak seasonal times (13.73%), whereas patients frequently reported high wait times (28.8%), limited availability of health care professionals (12.3%), and unsatisfactory or poor-quality health care received by a family member (11.9%) or themselves (11.8%).¹

Cost is a common concern in patients aged 18 to 24 years (61.6%), regardless of their insurance status. This patient group, compared with any other age group, was also more likely to be concerned with the overall access of affordable specialized care (21.7%). Those aged 25 to 34 years were the second highest group (19.2%).¹

The misdiagnoses and disparities within women’s health remain a concern and significant issue. About 6 in 10 Americans have at least 1 chronic disease, and about 4 in 10 have 2 or more. Further, approximately 60% of US women live with chronic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, and these conditions are often the leading cause of illness, disability, and death in the US. Some groups, notably women, are more affected than others because of factors that can limit their ability to make healthy choices. Those also at risk face obstacles because of where they were born, live, work, and age, and these social determinants of health when negative limit opportunities to access good medical care.^1-3

According to the CDC, most chronic diseases can be caused by a few risk factors, including smoking or excessive alcohol intake. To help prevent the onset of chronic diseases, the CDC recommends that individuals quit smoking, exercise regularly, eat healthier, get enough sleep, get screened often, and limit alcohol. These methods, along with knowing family history, can help improve chances of feeling good, staying well, and living longer.³

“The 2024 State of Healthcare Report serves as a powerful reminder that the health care system is constantly evolving, and we must work together to address its challenges and harness its potential for improvement,” Patrick Dotts, senior vice president of Soliant Health, said in a news release. “By listening to the perspectives of those on the frontlines of care, we can better understand the issues at hand and develop targeted solutions to create lasting, positive change.”¹

REFERENCES

1. Soliant. The Soliant Health 2024 State of Healthcare Report. News release. April 10, 2024. Accessed October 7, 2024. https://www.soliant.com/blog/the-soliant-health-2024-state-of-healthcare-report/

2. Navigating Women's Health: Over 66% of Women Have Received a Misdiagnosis. News release. October 1, 2024. Accessed October 7, 2024. Email.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease. Accessed October 7, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/