Health professionals claim millennials DON’T know how to take ‘good care’ of themselves

Almost seven in 10 GPs and pharmacists believe young adults have no idea how to lead a healthy lifestyle or treat minor ailments such as colds and headaches.

The health practitioners argue the wider public doesn’t have access to ‘high quality’ information which would enable them to lead a healthier existence.

And they believe successfully rectifying this problem would alleviate pressure on the NHS.

The study of young adults and health professionals was commissioned to mark International Self Care Day today [Wednesday 24th July].

Worryingly, the research found just 12 per cent of GPs and 23 per cent of pharmacists currently feel equipped to educate patients on the self-care options available to them.

Fabio Mazzotta, general manager of global pharmaceutical consumer healthcare company, Sanofi UK, said: “These findings reveal the complexity of the self-care landscape in the UK.

“And we hope by sharing insight into these issues, we can provide the NHS with a compelling call to action to improve the awareness of self-care practices amongst both patients and healthcare practitioners.

It also emerged only 39 per cent of Brits aged 23 to 38 feel they know ‘enough’ about taking care of themselves.

Fabio Mazzotta added: “As a business, we are committed to empowering people to help prevent illnesses before they begin and avoid additional cost pressures to local healthcare services and the wider NHS.

“In pursuing this goal, we want people to play an active role in managing their health and wellbeing, and for this to happen, there needs to be the appropriate education and training programmes in place for healthcare practitioners across the NHS.”

*Sanofi commissioned the research and has released a new global report titled, ‘Be Your Best 2019 – Empowering the Net Generation to Make the Most of Self-Care’.