Information For Men Research Articles

Identification of variants in genes associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Mexican patients

The objective of this work was to identify genetic variants in Mexican patients diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). According to world literature, the genes mainly involved are MHY7 and MYBPC3, although variants have been found in more than 50 genes related to heart disease and sudden death, and to our knowledge there are no studies in the Mexican population. These variants are reported and classified in the ClinVar (PubMed) database and only some of them are recognized in the Online Mendelian Information in Men (OMIM). The present study included 37 patients, with 14 sporadic cases and 6 familial cases, with a total of 21 index cases. Next-generation sequencing was performed on a predesigned panel of 168 genes associated with heart disease and sudden death. The sequencing analysis revealed twelve (57%) pathogenic or probably pathogenic variants, 9 of them were familial cases, managing to identify pathogenic variants in relatives without symptoms of the disease. At the molecular level, nine of the 12 variants (75%) were single nucleotide changes, 2 (17%) deletions, and 1 (8%) splice site alteration. The genes involved were MYH7 (25%), MYBPC3 (25%) and ACADVL, KCNE1, TNNI3, TPM1, SLC22A5, TNNT2 (8%). In conclusion; we found five variants that were not previously reported in public databases. It is important to follow up on the reclassification of variants, especially those of uncertain significance in patients with symptoms of the condition. All patients included in the study and their relatives received family genetic counseling.

Enhancing climate services design and implementation through gender-responsive evaluation

Assessing and responding to gender inequalities, and promoting women's empowerment, can be critical to achieving the goals of climate services, such as improved climate resilience, productivity, food security and livelihoods. To this end, our paper seeks to provide guidance to rural climate service researchers, implementing organizations, and funders on gender-responsive evaluation of climate services, including key questions to be asked and appropriate methodology. We draw on case studies of rural climate services in Mali, Rwanda and Southeast Asia to illustrate how gender-responsive evaluations have framed and attempted to answer questions about climate information needs, access to information and support through group processes, and contribution of climate services to empowerment. Evaluation of how group participatory processes can enable women's and men's demand for weather and climate information can help close knowledge gaps on gender equity in access to climate services. Quantitative methods can rigorously identify changes in demand associated with varying interventions, but qualitative approaches may be necessary to help assess the nuances of participatory communication processes. Furthermore, evaluation of how women's and men's information needs differ according to their roles and responsibilities in distinct climate-sensitive decisions can help assess gender inequities in climate services use. Evaluation that critically considers the local normative and institutional environment influencing empowerment can help identify pathways for climate services to contribute to women's empowerment. Qualitative and mixed method methodologies can be helpful for assessing the normative and institutional changes upon which empowerment depends. Although evaluations are often conducted too late to inform the design of time-bound projects, they can contribute to improvements to climate services if results are shared widely, if implementers and funders consistently factor evidence and insights from prior evaluations into the design of new initiatives, and if ongoing climate service initiatives conduct preliminary evaluations regularly to support mid-course adjustments.

Delivering the unexpected-Information needs for PSA screening from Men's perspective: A qualitative study.

BackgroundMaking decisions about PSA screening tests is challenging, as it requires both knowledge of the possible benefits and harms of screening and an individual assessment of the patient's values. Our research explores how much and what information men perceive to be necessary with regard to screening for prostate cancer.ObjectiveTo explore men's information and associated needs for decision making in PSA testing.DesignQualitative interview study.Setting and participantsWe interviewed 32 men (aged 55‐69) about their decision making on PSA screening following counselling with a Decision Aid at their GP’s or urologist's practice in Germany.Main Outcome MeasuresMen's expressed needs for decision making in PSA testing.MethodsAll interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by framework analysis.ResultsComprehensive pre‐screening counselling is needed. For the men in our study, information about test (in)accuracy, the benefit‐harm balance and consequences of the test were relevant and surprising. Additional needs were for interpretation support, a take‐home summary and time for deliberation. For several men, their physician's attitude was of interest. After being well‐informed, most men felt empowered to make a preference‐based decision on their own.DiscussionMen were surprised by what they learned, especially regarding the accuracy and possible harms of screening. There is large variation in the breadth and depth of information needed, and some controversy regarding the consequences of testing.Conclusion and patient contributionA core set of information should be offered before men make their first PSA screening decision. Information about biopsy and associated side‐effects could follow in a short form, with details only on request. Knowledge about a high rate of false‐positive test results beforehand might help men handle a suspicious test result.

Health Literacy Influences Men's Active and Passive Cancer Information Seeking

Background:For cancer prevention information to be effective, it must be accessible to its target populations. Prevalence of inadequate health literacy (HL) is high, but there is a dearth of information on the impact of HL on men's cancer information seeking.Objective:We investigated (1) men's cancer information seeking behaviors, (2) the effect of HL on men's cancer information seeking behavior, and (3) men's preferences for cancer information, considering their HL level. From a national perspective, we investigated men's information seeking behavior from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS), the largest provider of cancer information in Ireland.Methods:Men from adult literacy classes and men's groups were invited to complete a questionnaire. General and ICS-specific cancer information seeking behavior was investigated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted with “ever” seeking cancer information from any source, and actively seeking and passively acquiring ICS information as dependent variables.Key Results: Overall, 259 men completed the questionnaire and 44% had inadequate HL. About one-half of responders reported “ever” actively looking for cancer information. In the study group, 19% actively sought and 67% passively acquired ICS-specific information. In multivariate analysis, the odds of actively seeking (2.93; 95% CI [1.05, 8.15]) or passively acquiring (4.7; 95% CI [1.99, 11.05]) ICS-specific cancer information was significantly higher among those with adequate versus inadequate HL, respectively. HL was not significantly associated with odds of “ever” cancer information seeking in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 1.81; 95% CI [0.90, 3.63]). Men want information about cancer prevention. Suggested future cancer information sources differed by HL levels. General practitioners and the Internet were the preferred source for men with inadequate (53.3%) and adequate HL (57%), respectively.Conclusions:Men both passively acquire and actively seek cancer prevention information. Multimodal dissemination of cancer prevention information is necessary to reach a wide cross-section of men, including those with inadequate HL. This could potentially lower men's cancer burden and reduce gender inequalities in cancer mortality. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2019;3(3):e147–e160.]Plain Language Summary: Most men get cancer prevention information by coming across it passively in their daily lives, instead of actively looking for this information. Men with low health literacy are less likely to obtain cancer information both passively and actively. Men want this information. Organizations need to make this information available in many places and formats (e.g., Internet, doctor, television, sports clubs).

Called and Formed: Personality Dimensions and Leadership Styles among Catholic Deacons and Men in Formation

Through a national survey, Roman Catholic deacons (n = 1349) and men in spiritual formation for the diaconate, called candidates (n = 205), completed on-line measures of personality dimensions (i.e., HEXACO-60) and transformational leadership, as well as demographic variables. Results indicated that for both candidates and deacons, personality dimensions of agreeableness and conscientiousness were the most important variables for predicting transformational leadership styles. For deacons only, higher levels of honesty/humility, extraversion, and openness to experience also led to higher transformational leadership styles. Adding demographic variables as co-variates (age, years in a parish, number of children, and number of families in a parish) in the models did not seem to affect the predictive models; however, years in formation (for candidates) and years as a deacon did affect servant leadership style. Implications for the personality and leadership attributes of Catholic “married clergy” are discussed.

Personality as Predictor of Religious Commitment and Spiritual Beliefs: Comparing Catholic Deacons and Men in Formation

ABSTRACTRoman Catholic deacons (n = 1,349) and deacon candidates (n = 202), completed online measures of personality dimensions (i.e., HEXACO-60), religious commitment, spiritual transcendence beliefs, social desirability, and demographic variables. Social desirability tendencies did not impact responding for deacons or candidates. For candidates and deacons, honesty–humility and extraversion personality dimensions were significant predictors of religious commitment, and extraversion and openness to experience were significant predictors of spiritual beliefs of connectedness to others. Moreover, for deacons but not candidates, all personality dimensions significantly predicted at least one religiosity or spiritual belief. Implications for Catholic deacons and candidates for ordination are discussed.

Men in Ministry: Comparing Deacons and Candidates on Religiosity, Leadership, Personality, and Worship–Work Behaviors

ABSTRACTIn the present study, 424 men in formation (“candidates”) and a random sample of 424 ordained deacons reported their religious and spiritual attitudes, leadership styles, personality dimensions, and worship- and work-related behaviors. There were no significant differences between candidates and deacons on religiosity, personality, and most leadership styles. Candidates reported significantly higher worship-related behaviors than deacons, who expressed significantly higher personal-life desires. Candidates over time did not report significantly greater religiosity, personality, or leadership skills during their formation years. Results suggest that Catholic deacons and men in diaconate formation are similar as they start and continue their life as permanent ministers.

Age-Related Use and Perceptions of eHealth in Men With Prostate Cancer: A Web-Based Survey.

BackgroundMen with prostate cancer require ample information and support along the continuum of care, and eHealth is one way to meet such critical information and support needs. Currently, evidence about how age influences use and perceptions about prostate cancer eHealth information and support is lacking.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to explore use and perceptions about eHealth among men living with prostate cancer. Specifically, we aimed to analyze men with prostate cancer by age-specific cohorts to identify potential age-related differences in use and perceptions about prostate cancer eHealth information.MethodsWe used survey methodology to examine how men under 65 years old with prostate cancer differ from those aged 65 years old or older in use and perceptions about prostate cancer eHealth information and support (n=289).ResultsWe found that men in the younger cohort used the Internet more often to be informed about treatment options (P=.04) and to learn more about staging/grading (P=.01) than men in the older cohort. Results also showed comparatively greater use of online prostate cancer information for emotional support and encouragement by the younger as compared to the older cohort (P=.001). Furthermore, the older cohort reported more negative psychosocial effects of eHealth (eg, more anxious, depressed) than younger men (P=.002). We also found that as a result of more frequent Internet use, younger men experienced more positive psychosocial effects (eg, more informed, in control) from accessing information about prostate cancer through eHealth channels (b=-0.10, 95% CI -0.28 to 0).ConclusionsMen with prostate cancer have different information and support needs; our findings suggest that these needs might vary by age. Future research is needed to unravel age-related factors underlying these differences to be better able to tailor prostate cancer eHealth information to men’s information and support needs.

Priestly Celibacy and Identity: The Rocky Reception of Vatican II’s Presbyterorum Ordinis

The Second Vatican Council’s 1965 decree, Presbyterorum Ordinis (On the Ministry and Life of Priests) received an unwelcome reception within the Church. Priests, principally in the United States, Canada, and Europe, believed the document inadequate because it had not resolved the debate on mandatory clerical celibacy and priestly identity. The immediate aftermath of the council saw large numbers of priests leave active ministry and fewer men in formation for priesthood. Presbyterorum Ordinis ’s unresolved questions led to the 1971 Synod of Bishops on the Ministerial Priesthood. After a lively debate, clerical celibacy was reaffirmed and by the late 1970s the controversies surrounding priestly life and ministry were in decline.

The Supportive Care Needs of Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer

To better understand the priority supportive care needs of men with advanced prostate cancer. Qualitative, descriptive study. Outpatient cancer center and urology clinics in central western Ontario, Canada. 12 men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and 17 men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Patients participated in focus groups and interviews that examined their supportive care needs, their priority needs, and suggestions for improvements to the delivery of care. Tape-recorded focus group discussions and interviews were organized using NVivo software. Patients' supportive care needs. Participants identified prostate cancer-specific information and support to maintain their ability "to do what they want to do" as priority needs. Both hormone-sensitive and hormone-refractory groups cited problems with urinary function, the side effects of treatment, fatigue, and sexual concerns as major functional issues. Participants experienced emotional distress related to diagnosis and treatment. A priority health need for men with advanced prostate cancer is to improve or maintain functional abilities. In addition, men require support to meet their stage-specific information needs and to address concerns about the diagnosis and ambivalent feelings about past treatment decisions. Nurses could play an important role in addressing men's information needs and providing emotional support. The complex care needs of men with advanced prostate cancer provide opportunity for the development of advanced practice nurse roles that would use the clinical and nonclinical aspects of the role.

Abstract A7: Ethnic variations in trusted sources of prostate cancer information among American, Jamaican, and Bahamian black men

Abstract Introduction: Prostate cancer is the leading cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. African American (AA) and West Indian men are at greater risk than white and other racial/ethnic social groups in both incidence and mortality related to prostate cancer. AA men also have a greater likelihood of presenting at higher stage and grade with poorer treatment and health outcomes. Little is known about how black men obtain information about prostate cancer and if there is variation in trusted sources of information. The purpose of this study was to explore how black men obtain information about prostate cancer and screening and to identify sociodemographic and other ethnocultural characteristics that are associated with trusted sources of health information regarding prostate cancer. Methods: U.S.-born/American, Jamaican, and the Bahamian black men age 40 or older were asked questions about their trusted sources of health information related to prostate cancer and screening using DRE and PSA. The study used a convenience sample of 448 AA men and 48 Jamaican men residing in the Southeastern U.S. and 55 Bahamian men in the Bahamas. Data were self-reported survey responses and analyzed using SAS. Results: Study participants were likely married (54%), had some college or technical training (78%), and employed (60%). Over 90% of the men reported hearing of the DRE and 77% had heard of the PSA test. The major sources of health information were television news (65%), news/talk radio (54%), print materials (47%), and the Internet (45%). There were no significant ethnic differences in trusted source of health information. Further analysis revealed two information source subfactors: (1) oral (word of mouth)-oriented and (2) print-oriented preferences. Reporting good or excellent health, higher income, and having health insurance were associated with oral (word of mouth) information preferences. Reporting good or excellent health, higher levels of education and income, being employed, married, AA ethnicity, nonveteran status, and having had a recent health checkup and having heard of the PSA test and DRE were associated with print-oriented information preferences. In addition, printed sources of information were associated with awareness of DRE and PSA, but not recent screening. Conclusions: Blacks in the U.S. and Caribbean bear a greater burden of prostate cancer among men. Therefore it is important to understand what information sources are trusted and preferred within diverse cultures along with ethnocultural factors that may influence health information preferences. Future studies are needed to further explore the relationship between black men's information preferences and their prostate cancer-related outcomes. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A7.

African American Men's Perceptions of Factors Influencing Health-Information Seeking

The lack of health information is one of several factors implicated in the poor health status of African American men. Although a growing body of research delineates the obstacles to African Americans' engagement in preventive health behaviors, relatively little is known about the barriers that adversely affect men's involvement in health-information seeking. This article presents qualitative data on African American men's information seeking through an analysis of focus group data. Three research questions are addressed: (a) What health-information concerns and needs do African American men have? (b) How do African American men describe their efforts to obtain health information? and (c) What factors facilitate or inhibit health-information seeking by African American men? The implications of the data and suggestions for future research are provided.

Information‐seeking behaviour of men newly diagnosed with cancer: a qualitative study

This paper reports the findings of a study, which explored the information-seeking behaviour of men newly diagnosed with cancer. There is worldwide recognition that there are significant differences in the way men and women react to and cope with illness, yet there seems to be a lack of research into men's information-seeking behaviours and how they get their information needs met. The needs of men with cancer has so far received less research attention than women. A qualitative approach, consisting of in-depth interviews, was used. A convenient sample of 13 men newly diagnosed with cancer and five healthcare professionals and four lay sources were recruited for this study. Five themes emerged from the data. These were: 'experiencing discomfort in the healthcare setting', 'reliance on partners as information gatherers', 'reluctance to explore a range of information sources and support', 'unmet information needs' and 'getting back to normal'. Together, they provide a perspective on men's information needs and information-seeking behaviour. Healthcare professionals should be aware that there may be gender differences in how patients cope with their cancer, how they seek information and what information needs they have. Further training and preparation in 'men's health' is recommended for all those working with men in cancer care. Understanding how, when and in what circumstances men express their information needs will help healthcare professionals to develop strategies to meet these needs and other support needs of men with cancer.

The importance of patient preference in the decision to screen for prostate cancer

Routine screening for prostate cancer is controversial because of frequent false-positive results, the potential for slow, non-life-threatening growth of untreated cancer, the uncertainty regarding whether treatment can extend life, and the potential for treatment complications. This study examines how information about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and the uncertain benefits of treating prostate cancer affects patients' desire for PSA testing. An educational videotape designed to inform men about the uncertainty surrounding PSA screening and the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer was presented to two groups of male patients 50 years of age or older. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. For study 1, men seeking a free prostate cancer screening were preassigned to view the educational videotape (N = 184) or another videotape (N = 185). For study 2, men scheduled to visit a general internal medicine clinic viewed either the educational videotape (N = 103) or no videotape (N = 93). The men's information and preferences about prostate cancer screening and treatment and actual choice of PSA test at the next test opportunity were measured. Men who viewed the educational videotape were: better informed about PSA tests, prostate cancer, and its treatment; preferred no active treatment if cancer were found; and preferred not to be screened (all significant at p < or = .002 in both studies). Men viewing the educational video were less likely to have a PSA test (p = .041, study 2). This tendency was not significant at the free-PSA clinic (p = .079). Preference regarding cancer screening and treatment is greatly affected by information about medical uncertainties. Because informed patient choices vary. PSA screening decisions should incorporate individual preferences.

Problem formulation for programmers

The various attempts to augment man's information processing capabilities with the use of machines became significantly more realistic with the advent of the modern electronic and adaptive-logic computers 4 . With the introduction of advanced computing capabilities, a host of new and serious challenges emerged. One of the main challenges is that of transforming an ill-stated problem to one acceptable by the computer. Once a problem is well-stated, communication becomes relatively simple 3 . The burden is on the programmer to be the interface between the world of ill-stated problems and the computers. The programmer has to select a methodology by which he can take an ill-stated problem and restate it in such a way that it can be developed into a set of procedures and expressed in a language that is acceptable and understood by the machine. In order to more fully utilize computers for problem solving it is necessary that we understand more completely how we formulate a problem solution. Probes into the problem formulation question have been of two types, symptomatic and methodilogical. The symptomatic approach focuses on the program structuring capabilities provided by programming languages. It is believed that programming languages having certain program structuring features permit a more comprehensible organization of the problem solution and relate positively to successful programming. The second approach, which is being proposed here, is to examine problem solving methodologies used in computer programming. Our specific objectives are (1) to examine the possibility that a recognizable set of problem solving strategies maybe observed in a programming task, (2) given such strategies, the relationship these have to success levels in programming performance. In other words, how does programming performance vary as a function of the structuring of the problem by the programmer.

On Understanding Science by James B. Conant

BOOK REVIEWS 265 On Understanding Science. By JAMES B. CoNANT. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1947. Pp. 157. $~.00. This book must not be considered another of the scientific works that have appeared since the atom bomb focussed public attention upon the rapid progress made in atomic physics. It is a professedly popular approach, written by a scientist and educator, to clarify for the layman the meaning of science and its method of development. Dr. Conant's purpose in understaking this work is the assimilation of a scientific spirit of knowledge into social and political life. When that has been accomplished, and when we no longer fear the discoveries of science, we shall have been led one step nearer to peaceful living. In the Author's own words (pp. ~. 3) : When what we now roughly designate as science has been fully assimilated into our cultural stream, we shall perhaps no longer use the word as we do today. When that time arrives, as I have no doubt it will, the subject of t!his book will be fused into the age-old problem of understanding man and his works: in short, secular education . . . My argument, therefore, runs as follows: we need a widespread understanding of science in this country, for only thus can science be assimilated into our secular cultural pattern. When that has been achieved, we shall be one step nearer the goal which we now desire so earnestly, a unified, coherent culture suitable for our American democracy in this new age of machines and experts. The immediate necessity of such an assimilation is found in the pressing problem of international control of atomic energy. Since national policy rests ultimately upon the people, and since a government should be guided by its citizens rather than by a handful of scientific experts, the people should have an understanding of science when faced with a future largely dependent upon the advance of science. The method of this work is by far its most interesting feature. For Dr. Conant, understanding science means understanding the advance of thinking in the field of science. Hence, understanding science does not mean understanding the contents of the physical sciences as much as understanding the evolution of scientific thinking. In order to clarify his point, and in order to avoid technicalities difficult to the layman, he adopts an historical explanation. He shows how scientific thinking proceeds by way of a dialectic, namely, the dissatisfaction with an old theory or hypothesis, the toying with an alternative, the investigation of the alternative under the compelling force of new data accidentally discovered or planned experimentally. He illustrates his history by three case histories: (1) the evolution of the water pump into the vacuum pump, involving entirely new concepts of the weight and resiliency of air; (~) the transition from Galvani's 'animal magnetism' to the Voltaic pile; (3) the overthrow of the ' Phlogisten ' theory of combustion. In this section, the book is especially interesting, written in a clear and limpid style. It flashes with 266 BOOK .REVIEW.,S·humor when Dr. Conant shows the historian's tendency to read into history and to score the scientist's natural reluctance to abandon an old theory. Of atomic physics, the author has little to say, since his purpose is to avoid technicalities rather than to investigate them. On this point, it is, perhaps, necessary to differ with the author. Taken in connection with other popular presentations of science, it has value as an exposition of specialized, scientific thinking. In itself, however, it adds little to man's information about science. The every term ' science ' connotes content-value, knowledge of things in their causes and principles, not merely a method of reasoning which, after all, is as common to the mechanic as to the scientist. If some of the scientists at work on the Manhattan Project have been able, successfully, to present a popular understanding of nuclear physics, surely this work, if it is to give an understanding of science, and if it is to contribute to the education of the ordinary layman in an atomic world, should have more of a content-value than three case histories. Furthermore, when the author includes in...