Engaging the Underrepresented Sex: Male Participation in Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Programs

Females are more likely than males to participate in evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs targeted for middle-aged and older adults. Despite the availability and benefits of Stanford’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs, male participation remains low. This study identifies personal characteristics of males who attended CDSME program workshops and identifies factors associated with successful intervention completion. Data were analyzed from 45,375 male CDSME program participants nationwide. Logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with workshop attendance. Males who were aged 65–79 (OR = 1.27, p <.001), Hispanic (OR = 1.22, p <.001), African American (OR = 1.13, p <.001), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR = 1.26, p <.001), Native Hawaiian (OR = 3.14, p <.001), and residing in nonmetro areas (OR = 1.26, p <.001) were more likely to complete the intervention. Participants with 3+ chronic conditions were less likely to complete the intervention (OR = 0.87, p <.001). Compared to health-care organization participants, participants who attended workshops at senior centers (OR = 1.38, p <.001), community/multipurpose facilities (OR = 1.21, p <.001), and faith-based organizations (OR = 1.37, p <.001) were more likely to complete the intervention. Men who participated in workshops with more men were more likely to complete the intervention (OR = 2.14, p <.001). Once enrolled, a large proportion of males obtained an adequate intervention dose. Findings highlight potential strategies to retain men in CDSME programs, which include diversifying workshop locations, incorporating Session Zero before CDSME workshops, and using alternative delivery modalities (e.g., online).