One in seven adults have cancelled hospital appointments because they were scared to go, according to new research.
The trend emerged from a survey asking 2,000 adults about their attitudes to their health, hospitals and medical appointments.
The poll was commissioned by Siemens to coincide with the launch of a new app which aims to take the fear factor out of MRI scans - as 42 percent confessed to being afraid of the process.
A worrying 63 per cent confessed to an 'ignorance is bliss' attitude to their health, saying they'd 'rather not know' the reason for any unusual symptoms they have.
It also appeared that over half suffered from parallel worries about going into hospitals for follow-up tests or even routine appointments.
A spokesman for Siemens said, ''In the UK we're living longer, we have access to hospitals, and we can enjoy all the benefits that modern medical science can bring us.
''But to some it can be quite daunting, especially if you have to go into hospital for an MRI scan.
''Many find the thought of having an MRI scan extremely scary. Reasons can vary from will it be claustrophobic? Does it hurt? To what is going to happen?
''But putting off appointments out of fear can prolong the feeling of uncertainty over a diagnosis.
''Having all the information you need get will reduce any anxiety for follow-up visits.''
Experts developed the application in order to allay fears when being referred for an MRI scan, after feedback from consultants over people failing to turn up for the scans - which is proving a drain on resources.
The experts also found that calming the patient's anxiety over MRI scans before they occur can reduce the need for them to have an anaesthetic.
And it seems calming methods are needed - 14 per cent of adults in the survey have cancelled medical appointments because they didn't want to go - with a further one in five who said they'd thought about it.
Being scared of results or diagnosis emerged as the main reason for dodging the hospital, while almost four in ten confessed they hate the process of being tested.
Due to being anxious about claustrophobia, being unsure of the process and the length of time it takes, 42 per cent professed to not wanting to go through with an MRI scan.
Nearly a quarter described being too embarrassed by their symptoms to see a doctor, with 17 per cent who worried the staff would be judgemental.
Confusion over why they have to be tested in the first place apparently prevents 21 per cent from attending, the results showed.
While 63 per cent admitted to anxiety over certain medical issues, and said they find being in a clinical building too intimidating.
A whopping three quarters of Brits expressed a dislike of hospitals, though surprisingly it was waiting times which proved the main reason why.
And 15 per cent admitted to making excuses not to go to their medical appointments - such as being held up at work, seeing to a family emergency or having the wrong time and date.
Seemingly this aversion to medical check-ups gets passed through the family, as over a fifth said they'd had to coax their child into attending their appointments.
While 36 per cent have struggled to explain to their child what a diagnosis means and what follow-up visits will entail.
A spokesman for Siemens said, ''The MRI Scan Experience app is targeted at both children and adults who may need to visit hospital for an MRI scan.
''Its aim is to allay fears by educating and informing about the process from arriving at hospital, having an MRI through to what happens next.
"Patients who understand the process of what will happen to them when having an MRI scan are less likely to be anxious. This includes adults too who can be just as scared as children.
''Everyone deserves an easy and honest breakdown of what will happen to them during the process, which is why we've developed the app to give a helping hand.''
For more information visit www.siemens.co.uk/mri-experience
Android users use: http://www.siemens.co.uk/android-mri-scan-app
Apple users use: http://www.siemens.co.uk/apple-mri-scan-app
Medical ScareENDS
