The Centre for Men's Health conducts research in Andrology, studying men's health in all its aspects.
PhD students
Hui Xiao
Factors influencing ageing well amongst older New Zealand men: a mixed-methods study of Otago and Southland Regions (completed)
Objective of the research
This PhD thesis will investigate a cohort of older men in the Otago and Southland regions, focusing on their expectations and experiences of health and wellbeing, and levels of social engagement.
Background/review of the literature
Many of the health disparities between men and women seen in other developed countries are replicated in New Zealand. Cardiovascular disease, various forms of cancers, suicide, and injuries are either specific to, or more prevalent in men; most importantly, life expectancies for men in New Zealand are approximately 4 years less than for women. Such disparities vary across rural and urban communities, and across ethnic sub-groups. In particular Māori men live some 7 years less than other New Zealand men: life expectancy at birth is 73.0 years for Māori males, compared with 80.3 years for non-Māori males (Statistics New Zealand).
However, men's health and wellbeing is not currently recognised as a priority for healthcare providers, for government ministries and agencies, for health research funders, nor at the wider societal level. In contrast to countries like Australia, where federal and state governments have recognised the importance of men's health and are taking steps to address health disparities, in New Zealand, there is limited engagement on this issue.
Significance and conclusion
This PhD thesis will contribute to our understanding of the experiences of older men, to the further development of men's health research in New Zealand, and aligns closely to the mission and anticipated impacts of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge.
Research project: Ageing well in men in New Zealand
Publications
Baxter GD, Mabire L, Liu L, Connolly MJ, Theodore R, Brunson J, Nicholson H. Seven things you need to know about men's health. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2017;130(1463):7-10.
Xiao H, Doolan-Noble F, Liu L, et al. Men's Health Research in New Zealand: A scoping review. International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health, 2022, 5(SP1): 1-28.
Xiao H, Doolan-Noble F, Liu L, et al. Ageing well in older men in Otago and Southland of New Zealand: a focus group study protocol. Physical Therapy Reviews, 2021, 26(5): 323-327.
Research projects
Supportive care needs in prostate cancer: A mixed-methods study of unmet needs of prostate cancer survivors (SUPPRO)
Research team: Hui Xiao, Erik Wibowo, Tobias Hoeta, G David Baxter
This research programme is supported by the Lottery Health Research Grant NZ and the Department of Anatomy Strategic Research Grant, University of Otago.Prostate cancer is a significant health burden within New Zealand (NZ), and is expected to increase in the next 20 years. Survival gains from prostate cancer have created a shift in focus from survival towards quality of life (QoL) and supportive care during the extended survivorship.
The proposed project will explore the supportive care needs (psychological, health information, patient care, daily living, and sexuality) of NZ men with prostate cancer and factors that may influence those needs.
This project will also investigate the experiences of supportive care services of men and their partners and establish co-design groups to inform the further development of interventions that meet the supportive care needs of prostate cancer survivors.