title: Men's use of networks to manage communication tensions related to a potential diagnosis of prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study used relational dialectics theory to explore the communication tensions experienced by men who were on a prostate biopsy waiting list and how they managed these tensions using their communication networks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilised dialectical analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews conducted from July to September 2012 in a city in the North Island of New Zealand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dialectical analysis revealed men experienced four tensions; a) obligation to disclose/autonomy not to disclose; b) confident to help others/vulnerable and needing help from others; c) accept support/not accept support and d) desire for normality/need to tolerate uncertainty. These tensions were predominantly managed by vacillation. Specifically, the men used their communication network to select one pole with some people and the other pole with others to maintain balance between the poles of the dialectical tensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care professionals can help men in this situation by having a conversation about disclosure and support prior to them being diagnosed, educating men to reframe or connect as a more effective form of tension management, and linking men who have small or ineffective networks to other resources such as social support networks to facilitate tension management.
authors.affiliation: Management Communication Department, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Electronic address: drp8@students.waikato.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Dot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Management Communication Department, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oetzel
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: Communication networks; Communication tensions; Disclosure; Prostate cancer; Social support