"Too busy with work" leads to neglected follow-up exams — 88% take action within 3 months by using shortest 10-minute online medical consultations

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Toshiyuki Sakurai) and Alfresa Holdings Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yusuke Fukami) established MY MEDICA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President & CEO: Masaru Ito) to support health management and prevent serious illness among employees in the transportation industry. From March 25, 2026 (Wed) to June 11, 2026 (Thu), MY MEDICA conducted a survey on post-health check follow-up actions among its users.

<Main Survey Results>

- Prior to using MY MEDICA, only 24.5% of users underwent follow-up examinations after receiving health check results.

- The top reason for not undergoing follow-up exams was "too busy with work."

- After using MY MEDICA, 86.2% of users reported that the barrier to seeing a doctor decreased, and 88.0% received follow-up exams within three months.

Background

The rate of abnormal findings in periodic health checkups has been rising year by year. According to a 2024 survey, 59.4% of individuals had some form of abnormality, particularly high rates related to lifestyle diseases: blood lipids (31.2%) and blood pressure (18.4%). (Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Periodic Health Checkup Results Report") For companies, early lifestyle improvements and medical interventions for those with abnormal findings are critical to securing workforce and reducing healthcare costs. MY MEDICA Co., Ltd. provides "MY MEDICA," an online healthcare and wellness service that enables users to consult doctors during spare time, supporting prevention of disease progression for individuals who have been flagged in health screenings but remain untreated or undiagnosed.

Against this backdrop, MY MEDICA conducted a survey targeting 690 users who underwent follow-up exams via the MY MEDICA platform to assess post-health checkup care.

<Survey Details>

Survey Period: March 25, 2026 (Wed) – June 11, 2026 (Thu)

Survey Target: Users who underwent follow-up exams via MY MEDICA

Age Groups: 18–29, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 66 and above

Survey Region: Nationwide

Survey Method: Internet (questionnaire form)

Respondents: 690 individuals

Current Challenges

Over half (51.9%) of those needing follow-up exams previously "often did not visit" or "never visited" a doctor.

Only 24.5% of users had undergone follow-up exams after receiving health check results before using MY MEDICA. This result indicates that motivation for follow-up exams among those with abnormal findings was not high.

68.7% had repeated follow-up exams for the same condition. Only 20.6% continued treatment.

This suggests that many people are not successfully improving their lifestyle habits or preventing disease progression, leading to recurring abnormal findings.

The top reason for skipping follow-up exams was "too busy with work" (38.1%); similarly, "too busy with work" (30.9%) was the leading cause of treatment discontinuation.

For both skipping follow-up exams and discontinuing treatment, "too busy with work to find time to visit a hospital" was the most common reason. This highlights the importance of making healthcare accessible within busy daily routines for working-age individuals. Additionally, many respondents cited "long waiting times" and "not feeling the need to go," indicating a need to improve efficiency in healthcare access and enhance health literacy to help people understand the importance of medical visits.

Encouraging medical visits at peak motivation moments

72.0% of those who took a health check became aware they needed a follow-up exam immediately upon reviewing their results. Additionally, 27.3% became aware through a follow-up recommendation letter or reminder from their employer.

86.2% reported lower barriers to medical visits after using MY MEDICA

As a result of using MY MEDICA's features, centered on its online medical services, 86.2% of users reported reduced psychological and physical barriers to undergoing follow-up exams. Making healthcare more accessible appears to be an effective way to improve follow-up exam rates.

88.0% underwent follow-up exams within 3 months using MY MEDICA

Before using MY MEDICA, over half (51.9%) reported they "often did not visit" or "never visited" for follow-up exams. In contrast, 88.0% of MY MEDICA users underwent follow-up exams within three months, with 56.7% doing so within one month. This suggests not only reduced barriers to access but also the effectiveness of timely follow-up encouragement when motivation is highest.

73.9% reported increased motivation toward health and continuing treatment

73.9% of MY MEDICA users reported increased motivation to manage their health and continue treatment. Generally, higher treatment continuation rates lead to lower abnormal finding rates in the following year's health checkups. MY MEDICA plans to further strengthen its support features to prevent users from discontinuing treatment.

MY MEDICA Initiatives

MY MEDICA Co., Ltd. provides the online medical service "MY MEDICA," which minimizes waiting times and allows consultations during spare moments. The company believes improved healthcare access contributes directly to higher follow-up exam rates.

Starting March 2026, MY MEDICA began offering a new feature for contracted companies and their employees, enabling automated follow-up determination and online consultations entirely through its app. This ensures users do not miss the moment when motivation to act is highest—immediately after learning they need a follow-up exam—thereby encouraging timely medical visits.

No. 1 healthcare app among users in their 50s

According to Fuller Inc.'s "Generational Healthcare App Usage Trends Report 2026," MY MEDICA ranked No. 1 in terms of user share among individuals in their 50s. This objectively confirms high adoption among the 50s age group, which tends to have higher rates of abnormal findings.

Fuller Inc.: Generational Healthcare App Usage Trends Report 2026

URL: https://www.fuller-inc.com/news/202606-generational-healthcare-appmarketreport-2026

Moving forward, MY MEDICA Co., Ltd. will continue improving its services and conducting various surveys to fulfill its mission: "By providing the highest quality healthcare experience, we contribute to preventing serious illness and help realize a rich society filled with healthy, vibrant individuals."

【Contact】

<For Corporate Inquiries>

MY MEDICA Co., Ltd. Contact Form

URL: https://corporate.mymedica.jp/contact