The frequency of the self-examination of testicles among men in selected socio-demographic conditions/ Częstość samobadania jąder wśród mężczyzn w wybranych uwarunkowaniach socjo -demograficznych

Abstract

Background: Testicle cancer constitutes 1.6% of malignant neoplasms in men. It is the most common tumor in men aging 20-44 years. It is worrying that the analysis of epidemiological data from the last three decades indicates a threefold increase in the incidence of this cancer. Regular testicular self-examination is an effective and cheap way to diagnose cancer. Aim of the study: Evaluation of declared rate of testicular self-exam in adult working men in the context of selected socio-demographic factors. Material and methods: The evaluation was conducted between June, 2014 and March 2015 on 224 working men. Diagnostic survey was used as a research method. The questionnaire used as the research tool was elaborated by the authors. The evaluated men were asked to estimate how often they examine their testicles. In the following questions included in the survey, they were asked about socio-demographic details and family history of cancer. The participation in the study was anonymous and voluntary. Results: As declared, testicular self-exam is performed once a month only by 17.41% of surveyed men, 28.13% of men perform the exam once in a few months, and 54.46% do not do it at all. Socio-demographic factors that significantly influenced the frequency of testicular self-exam included: education of the father, and family history of cancer (father or siblings) (p< 0.05). Conclusions: Regular testicular self-examination is performed by a small percentage of adult men. There is a need to inform young healthy men about the prevention of testicular cancer, within the field of health promotion