Margareth Zanchetta, PhD, RN
Ryerson University, Faculty of Community
Services-Daphne Cockwell School of
Nursing
Profile of medical consultations
Critical period
0
50
12
65+
Regular medical
visits initiated by
mothers
Men’s behaviours: selfmedication, alcohol/drugs,
suicide (successful!)
• Colon cancer
• High
cholesterol
• Diabetes
•Hypertension
Medical long term
goals: Nourish
good
relationships with
HCPs
Medical short term goals:
Evaluate the health
condition of occasional
clients
Eventual
consultations:
Private health
insurance &
check-up
95
Increase of
medical
consultations
due to chronic
diseases
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
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Restricted access and less men’s health & social services
(Galand, 2001)
Immigrant men present high risk for chronic diseases
(Hyman, 2007)
Lack of conceptual models and frameworks to inspire health
policy respecting the diversity of men’s population (Doyal,
2000)
Lack of men’s health policy = Use of Health Canada sex &
gender based analysis policy as a conceptual framework to
explore health variations, health and illness experiences,
within social sub-groups to better understand life diversity,
and its impact on men’s health
Future should observe issues of domination and
marginalization among sub-groups of men (Spitzer, 2005)
British Columbia’s Expanded Chronic Care Model (BC-ECCM)
has inspired the conception of provincial plans (prevention &
self-management of chronic diseases) that may support the
development of men’s health programs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

complex social / economic inequities
vulnerabilities
barriers to access health care
cultural differences between immigrant
population / host society
health disparities endured by Francophone
men when living as linguistic minority
sexual orientation diversity
aboriginal men
Re-conceptualization of masculine gender
as a social determinant of health (or as
vulnerability) is needed
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
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
Margareth Zanchetta, PhD, RN- Daphne Cockwell School
of Nursing (DCSON)-Ryerson University
Christine Maheu, PhD, RN- School of Nursing, York
University
Sepali Guruge, PhD, RN- DCSON
Jalila Jbilou, PhD- University of Moncton
Roger Pilon, PhD cand, RN- Laurentian University
Research Assistants:
 Mohamed Mohamed, BScN, RN
 Melissa Stevenson, BScN, RN- Anishnawbe Health
Toronto
 Olesya Kolinsyk, MN, RN- University Health NetworkToronto General Hospital & Centennial College
 Terry Sizto, BScN student
 Carole Lina SanJose, BScN
 Diana Kinslikh, MA, RPT- West Park Healthcare Centre
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cancers (prostate, lung, and colorectal)
Circulatory diseases (high blood pressure)
Respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease and asthma)
Diabetes
Mental diseases & major depression
episodes
Substance abuse & alcohol dependence
Source: Haydon, E. Roerecke, M., Giesbrecht, N., Rehm, J., &
Kobus-Matthews, M. (2006). Chronic disease in Ontario and
Canada: Determinants, risks factors and prevention prioritiesSummary of Full Report. Available:
http://www.ocdpa.on.ca/docs/CDP-SummaryReport-Mar06.pdf
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In several qualitative studies, findings
reported were not differentiated between
men and women.
Less methodological rigor to compose a
minimal sample of 3 men participants to
allow internal comparison among them
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Barriers imposed by social vulnerabilities and
health inequities over personal intentions to
adopt self-management strategies
The use of humour to speak of diseases was
important to manage the impact of threats to
their masculinity

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Many studies target different cultural and
ethnic men, however, there is no concrete
comparison of whether one group is more
adaptive than another
Little is explored about the influence of
social and health services using a menfriendly approach to seek health care, and
engagement in primary health care initiatives
Research should aim to make explicit the issues
men face within health care
 Areas to be explored:
 Preventative strategies
 Comparison between cultural and ethnic groups
 The influence of social and health services
using a men-friendly approach to seek health
care, and engagement in primary health care
initiatives
 Creation of a Canadian research group that
includes Francophone and Anglophone
researchers in the area of men’s health

1.
2.
3.
Men usually do not articulate what their
communication needs are = Creation of
innovative ways to communicate and
respond to men’s interest in prompt action
It is not masculine to speak about emotions
= Eliminate barriers that are formed through
masculinity and gender shaped dialogue
Religion, culture, ethno-cultural
background, SES, and sexual orientation
diversity might affect perceived
competence, safety and appropriateness of
preventative and self-management
behaviours= Cautions about gender
overgeneralization
4. Create accessible and inclusive
environments
Health Research:
 Evaluate population based initiative to address
social and biological risk factors
 Compare effects of medical treatments
 Appraise the determination of health behaviours
according to concepts of masculinities
 Include in studies the places of social
interactions and masculine territories in health
promotion campaigns
 Expand partnerships with community groups to
reach out to groups of men who are not exposed
to ideas of health promotion and prevention
 Investigate ways to mobilize men’s sensitivity and
its effect in social relations
Findings remain inconclusive regarding the
following:
 Health prevention strategies men find helpful
to practice
 Self-management barriers they face in their
daily lives
 The context men live in and how they
manage their conditions
 Needs of different men’s groups (e.g. age,
culture, religion) are not addressed
 Multicultural society  cultural, religious,
cohort, gender identity, and socio-economic
factors
