Approaches to Engaging Men During Primary Healthcare Encounters

A scoping review

Bibliographic Data

ID21748717
AuthorsZac E Seidler (0000-0002-6854-1554, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), Ruben Benakovic (0000-0001-7613-1451, The University of Melbourne), M J Wilson (0000-0001-8983-0067, The University of Melbourne), Margaret A McGee (0000-0002-0816-518X, Movember Foundation), Krista Fisher (0000-0003-4066-3637, The University of Melbourne), James A Smith (0000-0002-0496-3221, Flinders University), John L Oliffe (0000-0001-9029-4003, University of British Columbia), Michelle Sheldrake (Movember Foundation)
Year2024
Volume18
Issue2
Pages15579883241241090-15579883241241090
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Men s Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1557-9883 • E-ISSN: 1557-9891
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/15579883241241090
PMID38606788
OpenAlexW4394751800
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited129

Gender-responsive healthcare is critical to advancing men’s health given that masculinities intersect with other social determinants to impact help-seeking, engagement with primary healthcare, and patient outcomes. A scoping review was undertaken with the aim to synthesize gender-responsive approaches used by healthcare providers (HCPs) to engage men with primary healthcare. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published between 2000 and February 2024. Titles and abstracts for 15,659 citations were reviewed, and 97 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed thematically. Thirty-three approaches were synthesized from across counseling/psychology, general practice, social work, nursing, psychiatry, pharmacy, and unspecified primary healthcare settings. These were organized into three interrelated themes: (a) tailoring communication to reach men; (b) purposefully structuring treatment to meet men’s health needs, and (c) centering the therapeutic alliance to retain men in care. Strength-based and asset-building approaches focused on reading and responding to a diversity of masculinities was reinforced across the three findings. While these approaches are recommended for the judicious integration into health practitioner education and practice, this review highlighted that the evidence remains underdeveloped, particularly for men who experience health inequities. Critical priorities for further research include intersectional considerations and operationalizing gender-responsive healthcare approaches for men and its outcomes, particularly at first point-of-contact encounters

Alliance · CINAHL · Health care · Medical education · MEDLINE · Operationalization · Political science · Psychological intervention · PsycINFO · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology