The effect of testicular cancer and testicular self-examination on knowledge, attitude and health beliefs in university students in Turkey

Bilsev Demir,Hilal Türkben Polat

doi:10.1108/jhr-05-2020-0185

Bilsev Demir, Hilal Türkben Polat

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/jhr-05-2020-0185

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Abstract

PurposeThis research was planned and applied as a descriptive study in order to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about testicular cancer (TC) and testicular self-examination (TSE) of male students who receiving health education.Design/methodology/approachThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between May and August 2019 with male students. Early diagnosis of TC is quite important in terms of prognosis of the disease. The data were collected by using the questionnaire prepared by the researchers in accordance with the literature and the Turkish version of health belief model scale (HBMS) for TSE. The data were analyzed by number, percentage, mean and standard deviation and t test.FindingsTSE HBMS, it was observed that the mean score of susceptibility subscale was 11.23 ± 3.73, the mean score of seriousness subscale was 28.20 ± 7.66, the mean score of benefit subscale was 21.57 ± 5.90, the mean score of the barriers subscale was 22.74 ± 5.16, the mean score of self-efficacy subscale was 9.91 ± 3.13 and the mean score of the health motivation subscale was 8.92 ± 2.84.Originality/valueThere was a statistically significant relationship between having heard of TC and health motivation (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge of TC and self-efficacy and health motivation (p < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between self-efficacy and TSE performing status (p < 0.05). There was also a significant relationship between the desire to obtain information about TSE and seriousness, barriers, self-efficacy and health motivation (p < 0.05). It was determined that majority of university students did not have any information about TC and TSE.

Highlights

The testicles are internal genital organs and are involved in the production of spermatozoon which is the reproductive cell in males [1]
If the Testicular cancer (TC) is in stage 1, that means that the cancer is only in the testicles and the survival rate is very high
Instruments/data collection The data were collected by using the questionnaire prepared by the researchers in accordance with the literature and the Turkish version of the Health Belief Model Scale (HBMS) for testicular self-examination (TSE)

Summary

Introduction

The testicles are internal genital organs and are involved in the production of spermatozoon which is the reproductive cell in males [1]. Germ cell tumor develops in the sperm-producing cell and is the most common type of TC by 95%. TC incidence varies from

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Conclusion