Sociocultural considerations in aging men's health: implications and recommendations for the clinician

Abstract 

The health of aging men, and the particular health concerns that they confront, are commanding greater attention within clinical medicine. Remnants of the biomedical tradition that examines prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease states in isolation from the historical, developmental, and cultural contexts in which they occur still predominate even though their impact on the medical care context is slowly becoming recognized. The relations of sociocultural characteristics to patterns of disease risk, health behaviors, symptom responses, delayed diagnosis, and treatment adherence are less well-documented or understood. Empirical evidence supports the role of sociocultural factors in the understanding and management of health among aging men. The essential features of specific ethno-cultural, psychosocial, socio-demographic, and health system variables can offer practical clinical applications for providers. Awareness and understanding of such characteristics will facilitate culturally competent practices that are more likely to engage men in collaborative educational, disease management, and health maintenance efforts throughout their lifespan.

Keywords: Sociocultural factors, Men, Aging, Patient–physician relations, Illness behaviors, Cultural competency