Jack
29-04-2009, 09:28 AM
So men and boys don’t go to their GP. Why?
I don’t ‘generally accept’ and I don’t think the excuses below are the main reasons – discuss!
It is generally accepted that men access health services differently from women, yet this is not always factored into the design of NHS Services. The theme for NMHW 2009, Access to Services, reflects the important role of policymakers and practitioners in developing and delivering services that men will use. The Gender Equality Duty has now been in place for 2 years and public agencies including the NHS have developed Gender Equality Schemes which is a major step forward in ensuring that gender is taken into account in the design and implementation of policy and services. It is important that we improve men’s awareness of the range of health and related services available and how to use them effectively. It is also important to note that men in Scotland are not one homogenous group, and as such will have differing needs in addition to those solely attributable to gender.
Statistics clearly show that men are less likely to consult with their GP but there has been very little research into why men access primary care services less than women. Some of the barriers previously identified are:
· Opening times, location, awareness
· Reluctance to take time off work
· The “ostrich approach” - dealing with issues only when they become to problematic to ignore
· Cultural and social pressures – perceptions that men should be self sufficient
· Lack of interest – an overall lack of engagement with health issues
· Availability of male specific services
BTW National Men's Health Week runs from 15th June to 21st June 2009. More details here if you're interested. http://www.mhfs.org.uk/mens_health_week.php (http://www.mhfs.org.uk/mens_health_week.php)
I don’t ‘generally accept’ and I don’t think the excuses below are the main reasons – discuss!
It is generally accepted that men access health services differently from women, yet this is not always factored into the design of NHS Services. The theme for NMHW 2009, Access to Services, reflects the important role of policymakers and practitioners in developing and delivering services that men will use. The Gender Equality Duty has now been in place for 2 years and public agencies including the NHS have developed Gender Equality Schemes which is a major step forward in ensuring that gender is taken into account in the design and implementation of policy and services. It is important that we improve men’s awareness of the range of health and related services available and how to use them effectively. It is also important to note that men in Scotland are not one homogenous group, and as such will have differing needs in addition to those solely attributable to gender.
Statistics clearly show that men are less likely to consult with their GP but there has been very little research into why men access primary care services less than women. Some of the barriers previously identified are:
· Opening times, location, awareness
· Reluctance to take time off work
· The “ostrich approach” - dealing with issues only when they become to problematic to ignore
· Cultural and social pressures – perceptions that men should be self sufficient
· Lack of interest – an overall lack of engagement with health issues
· Availability of male specific services
BTW National Men's Health Week runs from 15th June to 21st June 2009. More details here if you're interested. http://www.mhfs.org.uk/mens_health_week.php (http://www.mhfs.org.uk/mens_health_week.php)