What do we know about men's help-seeking and health service use?

Abstract

Men seek help and use health services less frequently than women do. Men's help-seeking practices and health service use are complex issues involving biological, psychological and sociological considerations. Most discussion on men's help-seeking positions them as reluctant consumers or "behaving badly" with respect to their health. Few studies have explored whether health service providers are equipped to deal with men's health issues appropriately. The current health system appears not to be tailored to meet the health needs of men. Better collaboration is required across disciplines, to further investigate men's health using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.