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Positioning, telling, and performing a male illness: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Author(s) -
Wood Nicholas,
Qureshi Annum,
Mughal Fahim
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1111/bjhp.12261
Subject(s) - narrative , narrative inquiry , qualitative research , prostatitis , coping (psychology) , shame , mood swing , medicine , psychology , pelvic pain , chronic pain , mood , disease , thematic analysis , blame , psychiatry , clinical psychology , social psychology , prostate , social science , philosophy , linguistics , cancer , sociology , radiology
Objectives There is a paucity of illness accounts of men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome ( CP / CPPS ), despite a significant level of prevalence and burden of disease. This qualitative study thus elicited twelve accounts from men suffering with CP / CPPS . Methods Narrative analysis was employed, focusing primarily on narrative content. Results Three major narrative themes were identified: (1) Medical stories: Blame and shame; (2) The Erratic nature of CP / CPPS ; and (3) Ongoing struggles for coping and cures and the Search for meaning. Conclusions Recommendations were made for health care providers and increasing the internal agency, support and activism of men with this debilitating condition.Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject?One qualitative account of this male illness (CP/CPPS) exists: an IPA study. Five cross‐sectional themes: (1) Need for repeated confirmation – disease not life‐threatening nor leading inexorably towards cancer; (2) Disturbed sleep and fatigue; (3) Concealing pain and problems – ‘normalizing’; (4) Enduring pain by performing activities; and (5) Abrupt mood swings and limited sociality.What does this study add?Narrative analysis adds information as to how this illness is managed and survived over time . It challenges the findings (above) by providing an insider perspective. Novel narrative themes include meaning‐making amongst others. Masculine performance and experiences are also crucial to this stigmatized illness.