Mursa Ruth, McErlean Gemma, Patterson Christopher, Halcomb Elizabeth
School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; and Health Innovations, Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; and Health Innovations, Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; and St George Hospital, Centre for Research in Nursing and Health, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
Aust J Prim Health. 2025 Feb;31. doi: 10.1071/PY24151.
Background Chronic conditions are a major health concern. Most Australian men are overweight or obese and half live with at least one chronic health condition. Many chronic conditions are preventable and treatable by reducing lifestyle risk factors. General practice delivers a range of services, including preventive health care; however, men have been noted to have low engagement with general practice. This study aimed to investigate men's perspectives on preventive health care within general practice. Methods Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of Australian men recruited from the NSW Rural Fire Service following an initial survey. Interviews sought to explore men's perspectives on engagement in preventive health care within general practice. Data were thematically analysed. Results Two sub-themes were identified relating to men's engagement in preventive health care within general practice. 'The scope of general practice services' highlighted diverse understandings among men's perceptions of the role and value of preventive health care. Whereas 'addressing lifestyle risk factors' revealed the nature of communication and advice provided within general practice concerning lifestyle risks and behavioural change. The findings indicated that when advice is provided, men want tangible and meaningful healthcare strategies that support them in making behavioural changes. Conclusions General practice clinicians need to prioritise preventive health care. Proactively addressing preventive health care with men and supporting them to make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices has the potential to enhance their health and reduce chronic health conditions.
背景 慢性病是主要的健康问题。大多数澳大利亚男性超重或肥胖，半数男性至少患有一种慢性健康疾病。许多慢性病通过减少生活方式风险因素是可预防和可治疗的。全科医疗提供一系列服务，包括预防性医疗保健；然而，据指出男性对全科医疗的参与度较低。本研究旨在调查男性对全科医疗中预防性医疗保健的看法。方法 在初步调查后，对从新南威尔士州农村消防局招募的澳大利亚男性进行了有目的抽样的17次半结构化访谈。访谈旨在探讨男性对参与全科医疗中预防性医疗保健的看法。对数据进行了主题分析。结果 确定了两个与男性参与全科医疗中预防性医疗保健相关的子主题。“全科医疗服务范围”突出了男性对预防性医疗保健的作用和价值认知的不同理解。而“解决生活方式风险因素”揭示了全科医疗中关于生活方式风险和行为改变所提供的沟通及建议的性质。研究结果表明，当提供建议时，男性希望得到切实可行且有意义的医疗保健策略，以支持他们做出行为改变。结论 全科医疗临床医生需要优先考虑预防性医疗保健。积极与男性探讨预防性医疗保健并支持他们就生活方式选择做出明智决策，有可能改善他们的健康状况并减少慢性健康疾病。
