Prof Gary WittertFreemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health Research, University of Adelaide
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
. A Perspective from your Trans-Tasman Mates - The Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health Experience
• Why a dedicated men’s health centre?
• Origins and evolution
• Structure and governance
• People
• Research and research translation
• Collaborative networks
• Funding
Outline
Men’s health
Encompasses all conditions or diseases that are either unique or more prevalent in men, with particular biological and
psycho-social risk factors and for which different behavioural or medical interventions are required.
Based on British Health Development Agency 2001
The male health disadvantage
ABS 2016
Men have higher mortality rates cf woment
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200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Age Standardised Death Rate / 100,000
Metro males Rural remote Lower SES Aboriginal Female
6
Indirect Economic Consequences
Men and Health Service Use: False Facts (FF)
• FF 1 Men are neglectful of their health
• FF 2 Men don’t go to the Doctor
• FF 3 Men don’t talk to their Doctor
• FF 4. The problem is masculinity
Men are not generally neglectful of their health
SA Men’s Health Services Preferences Survey: FFCMH / SA Health 2012; 2109 men
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Concernedabout heath
Motivated toimprove health
Perc
ent
Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study
4839.0 - Patient Experiences in Australia: ABS, 2012-13; AIHW: Ch 14 Consultation time and GP satisfaction
Shorter consults (~ 2 mins) than for females from 15+ years
Attention to other health concerns
• GP visits less so for preventative health• Other health concerns often not addressed
Health Services - Less Satisfactory Outcomes for Men
Taking action is based on
• Previous illness experience
• Knowledge, health literacy
• Perceived illness severity
• Perceived priorities
• Access to and nature of available service
Men tend to self-monitor
Smith & Wittert et al, 2008a; 2008b
In the right environment and if the conversation is appropriately facilitated
• Convey a sense of time available to talk
• Adopt a frank approach & ask directly
• Show competence, empathy
• Use humour thoughtfully
• Resolve health issues promptly
Men will talk about their health
Smith and Wittert, 2008a; 2008b
Young Men - poorer Health Literacy than young women
• 41% of Australians aged 15–74 had a level of health literacy that was adequate or above.
• Lower health literacy• disadvantaged areas and areas outside Major cities
• poorer self-assessed health status
AIHW, Australia's Health in 2012 ISSN 1032-6138Health Literacy, Australia, ABS 2006
Health literacy is about how people understand health information, use it to make informed decisions, and how they act upon these decisions to manage their health and well-being
% of people with adequate or better Health Literacy
Men with Low health literacy Less likely to be diagnosed with OSALi et al, Sleep 2013;37:571-578
Some disorders present differently in men
• 59% of depression in men undiagnosed
• Despite men with depression symptoms being more frequent GP attenders than men without such symptoms (OR:3.2; 95%CI:1.3-7.7)
Masculinity is a solution not a problem
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Concerns may relate more role efficacyAs husband/partnerAs a fatherIn the work placeAs a provider Maintenance of independence
Why a Centre for Men’s Health
Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health
“Men behave differently, not badly.
Health services need to respondaccordingly”
Strategies to optimise Health Care for men
• Design health services to accommodate needs and preferences of men.
• Communicate with men in a gender appropriate manner.
• Embrace masculinity –
• Emphasise responsibility, problem-solving and self-management.
• Masculinise Physical environment, Facilitate anonymity
• Extended clinic hours
• Facilitate time off work for health checks
• Support the preference for self-monitoring and facilitate self management
• Improve health literacy
• Male-relevant health messaging
• E-health (evidence-based websites, APPs)16
Establishment of the FFCMH
No More Secrets2006
Dr Greg LevenstonNSW Freemasons
Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health 2008 -
Organisational Structure and Governance
Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health
Governance
EDDVCR
Research Streams
Executive OfficerSpecial projects supportVolunteers
Staffing
Statistician
Multidisciplinary network of men’s
health researchers, clinicians, educators, students, volunteers
and consumers
Unique to Australia…Internationally
Funding
Return $8 per 1$ invested
Research
• Build transdisciplinary research program
• Platforms and capacity development
• Informed by consumers and other stakeholders
• Pathways to translation
2002-20072008
2010
Three Main Research Streams
2012
2010
2014
2016
2016
2017
Sleep
LUTS
2016
2017
Publications Oct 2008-Oct 2017
Collaborative Networks
People
• Build early to mid career research capacity
• Attract high quality researchers from interstate and overseas with salary top ups if already have funding
• Family friendly policies and aim for gender balance
• Support career development
• Support transition to independent funding
• Provide security
ECR/MCR support
• Research support packages
• Mentoring
• Conference travel funding
• Leverage funding for fellowship and grant awards
• Salary gap funding
• Research administration support
• Student supervision
• Community stakeholder engagement
• Profile development
ECR MCR
PhD and Honours 2008 - 2016
PhD Honours
HDR Scholarships by year of award
Vacation Research Students/Scholarships
• Conversion to Honours or PhD 10
• Return Students
• Publications 6
Community Engagement,Knowledge Transfer and
Translation to Health Outcomes
Uro-Reproductive Health Prostate Cancer
Chronic Disease & Risk
Health Services
Community engagement
Activities to support engagement and translation
• Consumers invited to men’s health research seminars
• E-Newsletter 6-8/year
• Public Research symposia/events 2-3/year
• Mens Health Week press release and other education activity
• Biennual Men’s health business breakfast
• Guest men’s health speakers for community, business, NGO, charity events
• Resources for community events
• Print media, radio, TV
• Social Media
• Podcasts
Advocacy
Medical Education
Policy Guidelines
Changing PracticeDisease
preventions and Health Promotion
Translational activities run across streams
• Get in Touch Reach Top Heath (GIRTH)
• SA Health – Healthy Workers Healthy Futures
• Development of an undergraduate curriculum for training health service providers
• Participate in summits/clinical committees
• Practice guidelines
Acknowledgements
FundingNational Health and Medical Research CouncilFreemasons Foundation, Premiers Science Research Fund, South Australia Department of Health, Florey Foundation, Resmed, Northern Community Health Foundation. Bequest of Geoffrey Ernest Stolz
Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s HealthSean MartinAndrew VincentEvan AtlantisGeorge HatzinikolasMatthew Haren (UniSA)Peter 'O'LoughlinLeanne Owen
NH&MRC Centre for Nutritional PhysiologyKylie Lange
Population Research Outcome Studies CentreAnne TaylorJanet GrantSandy PickeringZumin Shi
New England Research Institutes MA John McKinlayAndre Araujo
Health ObservatoryRobert AdamsSarah AppletonJoule Li
Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.Andrew Vakulin
T4 DM Team
TQEHDavid JesudasonJim WangJason Tan
Prof Michelle LaneDr Nichole McPherson
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