Viewpoint: a practitioner’s response to overcoming barriers to access by male participants at cancer resource centers

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide suggestions regarding how cancer resource center directors, staff and volunteers may encourage men battling cancer, as well as male cancer survivors, to patronize cancer resource centers and to participate in center services. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a personal viewpoint based on research and on the author’s managerial experiences with cancer resource center services, including planning services and programming. Findings This paper offers cancer resource center directors suggestions regarding how they can attract male cancer patients to their organizations and encourage their participation in center services. Research limitations/implications No limitations were identified. Practical implications This paper provides possible strategies for overcoming barriers to access to cancer resource centers in the male cancer-survivor population. Social implications Given the medical costs associated with cancer care, encouraging men with cancer to actively participate in cancer resource center programming, which profoundly influences their physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being, can yield many societal benefits. Originality/value Cancer resource centers desire to be inclusive of all cancer patients, regardless of gender; however, these centers tend to be disproportionally patronized by women with cancer. This viewpoint addresses how this problem may be addressed via service enhancement, service programming and service design to encourage greater usage by men.