Mixed-methods research on androgen abuse - a review.

Abstract

Purpose of reviewThis paper reviews the mixed-methods studies from the last 2 years (2021-2022) into androgen use to highlight the most relevant developments within the field.Recent findingsThe literature review found seven papers from 2021 to 2022. These seven cover a range of important considerations, including interventions to reduce androgen use, educational tools to increase professionals' knowledge, explorations on the comorbidity of use with other substances, motivations for use, potential risks factors for androgens' initiation, or risks of using androgens. Key findings include a greater understanding of motivations for use, particularly in females and older males; identification of potential risks for starting use/using androgens; benefits of including practical strength exercises in preventive intervention programmes and the efficacy of e-learning tools to increase professionals' knowledge of androgens use, as well as an increase in their confidence to support androgen users.SummaryThe key implications for clinical practice are that we still need to support healthcare professionals to overcome the barriers for increasing their skills and knowledge around androgen use. A recognition that people who have become dependent on androgen use are potentially at risk of considerable harm, with further research needed into sub-groups of androgen users.Video abstract, http://links.lww.com/COE/A35.