[What is Men's Health? A definition].
Target of the study: Men's Health is increasingly coming into focus of health research, epidemiology, health care organization, and health policy. Over the past 10-15 years have been published by some countries and the EU Men's Health reports where problems of health noted in men. Starting point for a scientific study of men's health is the definition of "Men's Health". A group of German experts in the field of men's health has taken on this task.


METHODS
A literature review in international and national databases was performed for the years 1990-2014 by selected MeSH terms and for "experts for men's health". Another research concerned "gray literature" in Germany, especially health reports and web pages. This was followed by a conference of experts to define "Men's Health" using a modified Delphi method according to W. Zinn. From the expert group minimum criteria for a definition "Men's Health" were created and discussed, which must comply with the new definition of men's health. This definition was created in the third round of the Delphi method.


RESULTS
The international literature review yielded 7 definitions of "Men's Health" in the English-speaking and 5 definitions in the German inkl. in the "gray" literature. Due to the developed by the Expert Group 7 minimum criteria 15 relevant topics were listed, of which by weighting 8 subject areas were considered relevant for a new definition. In comparison with the previous definitions none could fulfill these 8 criteria. Therefore, in the next step of the expert group a new definition "Men's Health" was elaborated. The definition has reference to the WHO concept of "health" and includes dimensions of health and disease, risk and protective factors that require special prevention and care services for all phases of life. All participants in the expert group agreed on the definition developed.


CONCLUSIONS
The definition of Men's Health is a basis for further scientific work and practice to improve men's health in Germany and other countries.
Stiftung Männergesundheit, Koordination des Wissenschaftlichen Beirates, Berlin.
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D
Bardehle
Robert-Bosch-Stiftung, Institut für Geschichte der Medizin, Stuttgart.
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M
Dinges
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Centre for Men's Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
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White
D003697:Delphi Technique; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health / Q000145:classification*; D009626:Terminology as Topic