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The health of aging men, and the particular health concerns that they confront, are commanding greater attention within clinical medicine. Remnants of the biomedical tradition that examines prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease states in isolation from the historical, developmental, and cultural contexts in which they occur still predominate even though their impact on the medical care context is slowly becoming recognized. The relations of sociocultural characteristics to patterns of disease risk, health behaviors, symptom responses, delayed diagnosis, and treatment adherence are less welldocumented or understood. Empirical evidence supports the role of sociocultural factors in the understanding and management of health among aging men. The essential features of specific ethno-cultural, psychosocial, socio-demographic, and health system variables can offer practical clinical applications for providers. Awareness and understanding of such characteristics will facilitate culturally competent practices that are more likely to engage men in collaborative educational, disease management, and health maintenance efforts throughout their lifespan.

Dyspnea self-management is often suboptimal for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many patients with COPD experience chronic dyspnea as distressing and disabling, especially during physical activities. Breathing therapy is a behavioral intervention that targets reducing the distress and impact of dyspnea on exertion in daily living.Using a qualitative design, we conducted interviews with 14 patients after they participated in a novel mind-body breathing therapy intervention adjunct, capnography-assisted respiratory therapy (CART), combined with outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Comprehensive CART consisted of patient-centered biofeedback, tailored breathing exercises, home exercise program, and motivational interviewing counseling. We assessed participants’ perceptions and reported experiences to gauge the acceptability of CART and refine CART based on feedback. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify commonalities and themes.We identified three main themes relating to the acceptability and reported benefits of CART: (1) Self-regulating breathing; (2) Impact on health; and (3) Patient satisfaction. Our findings were used to refine and optimise CART (i.e., its intensity, timing, and format) for COPD. By addressing dysfunctional breathing behaviors and dysregulated interoception, CART offers a promising new paradigm for relieving dyspnea and related anxiety in patients with COPD.

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