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Biomedical subjects

John Oliffe

Publications and source records attributed to John Oliffe.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Men, masculinities, and prostate cancer: Australian and Canadian patient perspectives of communication with male physicians.

Patient-physician communication is vital in cancer care, and aspects of the patients' experiences provide insight into what constitutes effective cancer communication. Complexities inherent in prostate cancer regarding screening, treatment(s) efficacy, and side effects commonly form the basis of patient-physician discussions. However, the specificities of patient-physician communications, particularly in the male dyad, and the connections to masculinity are poorly understood. The authors used secondary analysis of data from two interview studies of 19 Canadian and 33 Australian prostate cancer survivors who were treated by male general practitioners and prostate cancer specialists. Participants acknowledged that physician expertise and compassion underpinned the development of trust, and both reassurance and humor were effective communication strategies. Participants were often self-directed in researching prostate cancer, consistently using biomedical language and numerical markers when discussing their disease. Analysis of findings enabled interpretations regarding what might be considered prostate cancer communication competencies in the male patient-physician dyad.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2006

Men's constructions of smoking in the context of women's tobacco reduction during pregnancy and postpartum.

Men's smoking is largely under-examined despite research that has consistently linked partner smoking to pregnant women's smoking and smoking relapse in the postpartum. An on-going qualitative study involving 31 couples in Canada exploring the influence of couple interactions on women's tobacco reduction provided the opportunity to examine men's smoking in the context of women's tobacco reduction or cessation during pregnancy and postpartum. Individual open-ended interviews with 20 men who smoked were conducted at 0-6 weeks following the birth of their infants and again at 16-24 weeks postpartum. Constant comparative methods were used along with social constructivist perspectives of fatherhood and gender to guide data analysis and enhance theoretical sensitivity. Four themes emerged in men's accounts of their tobacco use: (1) expressing masculinity through smoking, (2) reconciling smoking as a family man, (3) losing the freedom to smoke, and (4) resisting a smoke-less life. Men's reliance on and commitment to dominant ideals of masculinity seemed to preclude them from viewing their partner's tobacco reduction or cessation for pregnancy as an opportunity for cessation. Expectant and new fathers who smoke, however, may be optimally targeted for cessation interventions because it is a time when men experience discomfort with their smoking and when discontinuities in everyday life associated with the transition to fatherhood and presence of a new baby provide opportunities for establishing new routines. Implications for gender-sensitive smoking cessation interventions are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Embodied masculinity and androgen deprivation therapy.

This paper describes the findings from an ethnographic study of 16 Anglo-Australian men treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced prostate cancer. Utilising a social constructionist gendered analysis, participants' experiences, particularly in relation to embodied masculinity, are described in the context of reduced testosterone that accompany ADT. The findings indicated that participants reformulated many ideals of hegemonic masculinity in response to functional body changes. However, hegemonic masculinity strongly influenced participants' philosophical resolve to "fight" prostate cancer. The findings are considered in broader ongoing debates about essentialist sex and the social construction of gender.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Why not ethnography?

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anthropology, Cultural↗
PubMed2004

Constructions of masculinity following prostatectomy-induced impotence.

Large numbers of Australian men are diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer each year. The incidence is exceeding mortality, and men are living longer with prostate cancer and the common treatment[s] side effect of impotence. Despite these epidemiological trends there is little research about men's experiences of impotence following treatment. An ethnographic study of Anglo-Australian men with localized prostate cancer explored participants' experiences of impotence following prostatectomy. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 men were analyzed using a social constructionist gendered framework. In particular, the effect of impotence on participants' masculinity, sexuality and intimate relationships was explored. The findings show that participants rationalized forgoing potency prior to surgery as a way of living longer. However, diverse complex reactions accompanied impotence. Whilst most participants redefined masculine ideals of phallocentric sex, the way in which this occurred varied greatly. The findings disrupt essentialist constructions of male sexuality and impotence, and provide valuable insight for clinical practice.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx): patient perspectives.

Prostate cancer continues to be a complex disease for which a cause or cure has not yet been identified. Many men are diagnosed each year and the incidence is likely to increase as greater numbers of men reach "old" age. The transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) is the predominant method to diagnose prostate cancer, and varying levels of patient pain have been associated with the procedure. The purpose of this ethnographic research study was to describe TRUS-Bx from the patients' perspective. Results from this study indicated that TRUS-Bx pain was strongly influenced by psychosocial factors, as well as physical aspects of the procedure.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Being screened for prostate cancer: a simple blood test or a commitment to treatment?

The virtues of screening men for prostate cancer continue to be debated in political and public health, as well as clinical forums. Science has been unable to accurately predict screening benefits, yet many men are required to make informed decisions about prostate cancer screening. Clinicians' screening practices have been reported, but little research attention has been given to patients' experiences. The purpose of this study was to describe patients' perspectives of being screened and subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thirty-five Anglo-Australian men were interviewed, and the data were analyzed using ethnographic content analysis. The findings indicated that most participants experienced screening as a continuum of 3 tests, rather than the simple prostate-specific antigen blood test they had often anticipated. Commitment to a definitive diagnosis when abnormality was detected through screening and uptake of active treatment(s) when prostate cancer was confirmed were strongly represented in this study. The findings offer insight to the complex and often rapid sequence of events that can accompany prostate cancer screening. This has implications for the information that needs to be discussed with men before, rather than after prostate cancer screening has commenced.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"Truth telling" and cultural assumptions in an era of informed consent.

Patient and healthcare provider communication is vital in cancer care and aspects of the patients' experiences provide valuable insight to what constitutes effective cancer communication. In this article we describe the communication experiences of patients from nondominant cultures who accessed Canadian-based cancer services. The findings enabled us to thoughtfully reflect on Western ideals about autonomy and responsibility and their relationship to informed consent in the context of cancer communication.

Attitude to Health↗