Involving men in targeted primary health care: men's health MOTs

Abstract

Health visitors initiated and developed a men's health project in North Staffordshire, adopting a client involvement approach to provide men's 'health MOTs' for men in deprived areas. As the sessions were expanded to other areas of the trust, a consultation process with focus groups was used to identify local men's needs and suggestions. The themes to emerge were--men's fears around health, reducing health check fear and anxiety, female roles in health, suitable locations for men's health events, most desirable tests and advisors, and male-friendly written information. Issues around venue choice were a more significant factor than originally perceived, and the focus group findings have since informed many practical aspects of the men's health MOT sessions.