The effect of implementation intentions on testicular self-examination using a demonstration video

Abstract

The current study aimed to test the effectiveness of a testicular self-examination (TSE) demonstration video intervention, with and without implementation intentions, in improving TSE rates. It also tested the utility of a ‘boosting exercise’ where participants were asked to renew their implementation intentions at first follow-up. A three-group randomised controlled trial was carried out with three data collection time-points. Ninety-three male students watched a TSE demonstration video at baseline; Group 1 (n=32) only watched the video. Groups 2 (n=31) and 3 (n=30) also formed implementation intentions. Group 3 carried out the ‘boosting exercise’ by renewing implementation intentions four weeks later. Performance of TSE was measured at the three time-points. The results showed that TSE performance increased from baseline (20.4%) to first follow up (81.8%) and remained high at second follow up. It was concluded that implementation intentions added no benefit over watching a demonstration video alone, sug...