Getting to the Heart of Men’s Health

Background: The National Male Health Policy (2010) highlights a need for greater focus to deliver primary care services responsive to men’s health needs. In the Australian professional health workforce context, nurses’ are present in large numbers at the ‘heart’ of primary care. To release the full potential of this highly appropriate resource would be a significant contribution to men’s health service delivery. The majority of nurses already possess many of the skills necessary to tackle men’s health issues, but what is often missing is a conscious awareness of the impact of gender on men’s health, the modifiable social factors and possible barriers and solutions for men accessing health care. A good starting point for the nurse is to ask themselves the question, “what is your own perspective about men’s health?” It is important that the nurse consider their knowledge and possible embarrassment in discussing sensitive issues with men. Men’s health encompasses a lot more than ‘below the belt’ discussions and may require a shift in the nurse’s attitude to move beyond feeling discomfort to more equitable nursing care for men. Until recently there has been little empirical research, and particularly qualitative nursing studies, examining the reasons why the health system may not be addressing the underlying factors affecting men’s health. In Australia and internationally, this has limited the evidence-base available to inform men’s health policy development and service delivery. Aim: In response to the National Male Health Policy 2010 and the need to develop workforce capacity in men’s health, the aim of this research study is to fill the gap in the evidence to understand how nurses conceptualise men’s health in primary care. Methods: The study will use the Phenomenographic approach to guide the data collection and through a seven stage cycle of data analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with nurses’ in primary care living in Australia. Conclusion: It is anticipated that these findings will assist nurses to have confidence to understand men’s health and help to guide the development and implementation of nursing knowledge and make health care services more responsive to men’s health needs