Scots seek medical help after talking with family

Two-fifths of Scots were 
motivated to make an appointment with a doctor after talking through their health concerns with a friend or relative, according to new research.

Forty per cent of those quizzed said the chat was the trigger for taking action when they developed concerns about a change to their body.

Of these cases, partners played the biggest role, with 66 per cent saying their other half urged them to go to a GP.

Some were inspired to do so by more than one person. Nearly a third said they had been motivated to visit a doctor by their mothers and 12 per cent by their daughters.

Five per cent of respondents were prompted to go by their fathers, and 7 per cent by their sons.

The survey, published by Cancer Research UK and Tesco, coincides with the launch of a new online video from the charity and supermarket chain, highlighting the importance of talking to a GP about any unusual changes to your body.

The film features worried people chatting to colleagues and friends about their health concerns. It urges viewers to see a doctor at the earliest opportunity if they have a health concern that is playing on their mind.

The charity is aiming to raise awareness of the early signs of cancer, believing that the earlier it is diagnosed, the better chance people have of beating the 
disease.