title: Men's health-seeking behaviours regarding bone health after a fragility fracture: a secondary analysis of qualitative data.
abstract: In our qualitative study, men with fragility fractures described their spouses as playing an integral role in their health behaviours. Men also described taking risks, preferring not to dwell on the meaning of the fracture and/or their bone health. Communication strategies specific to men about bone health should be developed.
  
  
  
  We examined men's experiences and behaviours regarding bone health after a fragility fracture.
  
  
  
  We conducted a secondary analysis of five qualitative studies. In each primary study, male and female participants were interviewed for 1-2 h and asked to describe recommendations they had received for bone health and what they were doing about those recommendations. Maintaining the phenomenological approach of the primary studies, the transcripts of all male participants were re-analyzed to highlight experiences and behaviours particular to men.
  
  
  
  Twenty-two men (50-88 years old) were identified. Sixteen lived with a wife, male partner, or family member and the remaining participants lived alone. Participants had sustained hip fractures (n = 7), wrist fractures (n = 5), vertebral fractures (n = 2) and fractures at other locations (n = 8). Fourteen were taking antiresorptive medication at the time of the interview. In general, men with a wife/female partner described these women as playing an integral role in their health behaviours, such as removing tripping hazards and organizing their medication regimen. While participants described giving up activities due to their bone health, they also described taking risks such as drinking too much alcohol and climbing ladders or deliberately refusing to adhere to bone health recommendations. Finally, men did not dwell on the meaning of the fracture and/or their bone health.
  
  
  
  Behaviours consistent with those shown in other studies on men were described by our sample. We recommend that future research address these findings in more detail so that communication strategies specific to men about bone health be developed.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Health and Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada. salej@smh.ca.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. salej@smh.ca.
authors.forename: J E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Robert H.N. Ho Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.|Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ashe
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Health and Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beaton
authors.affiliation: Mobility Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bogoch
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Health and Outcomes Research, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frankel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents
keywords: Fragility fracture; Men; Patient perspective; Post-fracture secondary prevention; Qualitative research