Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Barriers to medical help-seeking among older men with prostate cancer

  • L Medina-Perucha
  • , O Yousaf
  • , M.S Hunter
  • , E.A Grunfeld

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    32 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective:- Men's disinclination to seek medical help has been linked to higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to women. However, previous studies were conducted predominantly with healthy, young, and middle-aged men. We explored the perceived medical barriers to help-seeking in older men with prostate cancer. Method:- 20 men with prostate cancer took part in semistructured interviews, which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results:- Three themes were identified related to negative attitudes toward help-seeking: male gender role; fear of the health condition, medical and treatment procedures; and embarrassment as a consequence of medical examinations, communication with health (and nonhealth) professionals, and the disclosure of sexual-related symptoms. Conclusion:- The barriers identified in our study strengthen the evidence for the impact of traditional masculinity on help-seeking in men.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Psychosocial Oncology
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2017

    Keywords

    • help-seeking
    • masculinity
    • men
    • prostate cancer
    • thematic analysis

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Barriers to medical help-seeking among older men with prostate cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this