title: Communication networks of men facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study seeks to identify the factors that shape the communication networks of men who face a potential diagnosis of prostate cancer, and how these factors relate to their disclosure about their changing health status.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Men facing a potential diagnosis of prostate cancer are in a challenging situation; the support benefits of disclosing their changing health status to others in their communication networks is set against a backdrop of the potential stigma and uncertainty of the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  All men on a prostate biopsy waiting list were eligible for inclusion in an exploratory and interpretive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 40 men explored their network structures and disclosure of health information. Thematic analysis highlighted the factors which contributed to their network structures and their disclosure about their health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four network factors shaped men's perspectives about disclosing their health status: (1) tie strength, comprising both strong and weak ties; (2) knowledgeable others, with a focus on medical professionals in the family; (3) homophily, which included other individuals with a similar medical condition; and (4) geographical proximity, with a preference for face-to-face communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Communication networks influence men's disclosure of their health status and in particular weak ties with medical knowledge have an important role. Men who use the potential for support in their networks may experience improved psychosocial outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using these four network factors-tie strength, knowledgeable others, homophily or geographical proximity-to forecast men's willingness to disclose helps identify men who lack potential support and so are at risk of poor psychosocial health. Those with few strong ties or knowledgeable others in their networks may be in the at-risk cohort. The support provided in communication networks complements formal medical care from nurses and other health professionals, and encouraging patients to use their communication networks improves the psychosocial health of the men themselves, their partners and their families.
authors.affiliation: Management Communication Department, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. 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
authors.affiliation: Management Communication Department, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support
keywords: communication networks; disclosure; homophily; prostate cancer; proximity; tie strength