Half of British adults believe they would be in greater danger if they were admitted to hospital at the weekend rather than on a weekday, research suggests.

The Observer/Opinium poll, which found significant numbers of patients had delayed trips to the doctors on a Saturday and Sunday, was published on Saturday as thousands of junior doctors protested against government proposals to reform weekend working.

It found 50% of all adults surveyed thought weekend admissions were more dangerous. This fear was most pronounced among older people, with 62% of over-55s believing their health would be put at risk.

The poll was designed to measure the impact of Jeremy Hunt’s assertion that patients admitted to hospital at weekends are 15% more likely to die than those admitted during the week. The health secretary has used the claim to justify changes to pay and hours for weekend working in a new contract proposed for junior doctors in England.

The figures show that 35% of adults have delayed seeking medical help at the weekend. Some put off visiting a doctor because their illnesses were minor, but 21% delayed their visit because they feared the quality of care would be lower.

The poll also found 41% of people believe junior doctors would be justified in taking strike action to oppose the changes to their contract, with the proportion rising to almost half (49%) among 18- to 34-year-olds.

One respondent told Opinium: “The government should be looking to reducing costs of management in NHS instead of qualified doctors and nurses.”

Another respondent said: “Why should they not get paid for the extra hours? It’s awful! They work hard and deserve the money they get for unsocial hours.”

However, just over a quarter of those polled said strike action would be unjustified. One person said: “There are countless people working unsociable hours who don’t get anywhere near what junior doctors are paid.”

Thousands rally in London to protest junior doctor contract - live Read more

Other respondents worried about the dangers for patients, with one telling Opinium: “People could die. They will earn more later. Everyone has to start on a lower salary.”

This month it was revealed that doctors were compiling a dossier of patients whose health had been put at severe risk because, the medics claimed, Hunt had misled the public into thinking hospitals did not provide 24-hour care and so they delayed seeking treatment. Some doctors have dubbed this “the Hunt effect”.

The British Medical Association is preparing to ballot its members on strike action if the government does not abandon its planned changes to the contract.

Dr Johann Malawana, the head of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, said: “The outpouring of anger and frustration we have seen from thousands of junior doctors across the UK, culminating in today’s unprecedented gathering in London, must be a wake-up call for ministers. If they thought that junior doctors would simply accept their threats of imposition they have been proved very wrong.”

Earlier on Saturday, Hunt repeated his claims that the doctors’ union was “misleading” its members over the planned reforms. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he claimed the new contract would not leave junior doctors worse off.