Men interviewing men about health and illness: ten lessons learned

In this paper the authors share their experiences of conducting qualitative research interviews with men about health and illness. Practical issues including interviewer preparation and questioning techniques as well as the nuances of talking with men about matters that are commonly considered to be outside male expertise and interest are discussed. Guidance to ensure that interviews are successful includes recommendations for providing explicit permission for men to break with the ideals of what men talk about, strategies for meeting the challenges of the diverse behaviour of interviewees, and considerations about the need for reflexive interviewing. Valuable insight is offered that pre-empts an awareness of the complexities, as well as stressing the value of men interviewing men about health and illness that is intended to prompt researchers to consider and reconsider the intricacies of interview-based research.