Testicular Self-examination Research Articles

Nurse practitioners' behavior regarding teaching testicular self-examination.

To test a model derived from the theory of reasoned action and to determine the behavior of nurse practitioners (NPs) regarding teaching testicular self-examination (TSE). A cross-sectional, explanatory design was used to survey a random sample of 1,490 members of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. NPs had positive attitudes toward teaching TSE and were engaged in such teaching. They perceived that other NPs, physicians, and patients also value TSE teaching. The theoretical model was supported. The results have implications for research, practice, and education. The theory was shown to be useful as a framework for the study of NP behavior. The results highlight the importance of including strategies to promote positive values as components of nurse preparation. For practice, patient adherence to illness detection activities may be fostered by positive attitude, perception that significant others also value these activities, and belief that failure to do so may result in personal loss.

The cancer screening practices of adult survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

The current study characterized the self-reported cancer screening practices of adult survivors of childhood cancer. A cohort of 9434 long-term survivors of childhood cancer and a comparison group of 2667 siblings completed a 289-item survey that included items regarding cancer-screening practices. Overall, 27.3% of female respondents reported performing breast self-examination (BSE) regularly, 78.2% reported undergoing a Papanicolaou smear within the previous 3 years, 62.4% underwent a clinical breast examination (CBE) within the last year, and 20.9% had gotten a mammogram at least once in their lifetime. Approximately 17.4% of male respondents reported performing regular testicular self-examination (TSE). Women age > or =30 years who had been exposed to chest or mantle radiation therapy were more likely to report undergoing CBE (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.32-1.92) and mammography (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.47-2.56). Compared with the sibling comparison group, survivors demonstrated an increased likelihood of performing TSE (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.22-1.85) or BSE (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.52), of having undergone a CBE within the last year (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.35), and of ever having undergone a mammogram (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.52-2.17). The results of the current study demonstrate that the cancer screening practices among survivors of childhood cancer are below optimal levels. Primary care physicians who include childhood cancer survivors among their patients could benefit these individuals by informing them about future cancer risks and recommending appropriate evidence-based screening.

Skin Self-Examination in Patients at High Risk for Melanoma: A Pilot Study

To compare the effect of providing high-risk patients with standard brochures versus personalized photo books as part of a comprehensive nursing intervention on knowledge, awareness, and confidence with skin self-examination (SSE) performance, as well as compliance in performing SSE. Randomized intervention design. The Lawrence E. Rockefeller Ambulatory Outpatient Cancer Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. 100 patients at high risk for melanoma. Patients completed a baseline questionnaire before their initial photographs were taken and at the end of a nurse-teaching intervention at the clinic. Skin cancer knowledge, awareness, and self-confidence in SSE. A two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed to examine differences within and among groups in relation to knowledge, awareness, and confidence. The group-time interaction was not significant. In group A (nursing intervention with photo book), 10% of the patients at baseline reported performing SSE three or more times during the prior four months. Mean knowledge scores, awareness, and confidence scores all increased. In group B (nurse-teaching intervention using brochures only, without a photo book), 20% reported practicing SSE three or more times during the prior four months. Mean knowledge, awareness, and confidence scores increased. The main difficulty that patients experience with self-detection of melanoma is their limited recall of skin appearance; therefore, photographic records may be the most effective aid for detecting changes at longer intervals. The use of a photo book may help to diminish that difficulty. This study supports the fact that education can increase knowledge, awareness, and confidence regarding SSE, which is consistent with the findings of other investigators. Therefore, nurses should incorporate teaching patients how to perform SSE into their practice and recognize that personal involvement in health care has become a dominant theme in the cancer education literature in recent years. With this new emphasis, important self-care activities, such as testicular self-examination, breast self-examination, and now SSE, are being stressed because early detection has shown favorable effects in improving the prognosis of cancer.

Testicular Cancer Screening in a Primary Care Setting

Testicular cancer most commonly affects younger males, and its incidence has increased in recent years. There is, however, a lack of data documenting the level of testicular cancer screening by physicians in primary-care settings in the U.S. In this retrospective study over a one-year period, we looked at the prevalence of testicular cancer screening in 200 males ages 18 to 39 in a universitybased clinic in Southeast Texas. Thirty-one (15.5%) participants received a testicular examination. Three participants were asked about testicular cancer risk factors, and three had education on screening (one participant had both, for a total of five). Of the three participants receiving screening education, two were taught testicular self-examination by the physician, while the other one was given written materials on screening. These rates of testicular cancer screening are low. Interventions are needed to help improve patient and physician awareness of testicular cancer screening.

Integrating Religious Practices in Home Health Care: A Case Study of Collaboration between the Health Care System and the Orthodox Jew

As young children, our parents told us to eat our vegetables because they were healthy. As adults we try to watch our weight, exercise, quit smoking or never start, and take our vitamins and other medications that are prescribed. Why? For our health! As health care workers, we are telling our clients, do not overexert, stay on your prescribed diet, and do regular breast or testicular self-exams. Why? For their health! It is important for us to not only know what to advise our clients, but how to incorporate this advice into their daily lives so they are compliant with the recommended course of treatment. What happens when they are noncompliant with these directions? We see our home care clients returning to the hospital, complicating their conditions, or just not getting any better. This article focuses on the challenges of the home health nurse in integrating particular beliefs, values, and life ways into the recommended plan of treatment that will affect the compliance of the client.

Testicular Self‐Examination in Young Adult Men

To describe patterns of testicular self-examination (TSE) in a sample of young adult men and to identify factors distinguishing between men who do and do not practice TSE. A comparative descriptive design with a convenience sample of 191 adult men aged 18-35 years, recruited from a large industrial complex in the U.S. Midwest. Data were collected during several occupational health fairs held from 1999-2001. A self-report, 75-item health risk appraisal (HRA) was administered to identify health-related lifestyle habits. Men who did and did not perform TSE regularly were compared using Mann-Whitney U statistics for discrete variables and t tests for continuous data. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify factors allowing prediction of frequent or infrequent TSE performance. Sixty-four percent of 191 participants reported rarely or never performing TSE, and 36% practiced TSE monthly or every few months. Men who infrequently performed TSE were more often African American or Hispanic and had less than a college education. Other significant factors associated with infrequent TSE practice included less satisfaction with current job assignment; less satisfaction with life in general; greater worries interfering with daily life; more serious family problems in dealing with spouse, children, or parents; and reduced availability of people to turn to for support. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were related to TSE knowledge and performance. Further investigation is required to determine why men, especially ethnic minority men, are not performing this important cancer-screening activity.

Pilot study of testicular cancer awareness and testicular self-examination in men attending two South London general practices.

Testicular cancer (TC) awareness and testicular self-examination (TSE) have never been evaluated adequately in UK general practice. TC has a 96% cure rate if detected early. Our aim was to estimate awareness of TC and practice of TSE in a general practice population. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out in 250 consecutive male attenders aged 18-50 years in two general practices, one inner city, and one suburban. After obtaining informed consent, male patients in the waiting room were asked to complete a brief confidential questionnaire about TC and TSE. The response rate was 81%. Mean age was 32 years (range 18-50). Seventy-five per cent of responders described themselves as white, 12% Asian, 6% black and 7% other ethnic groups. Ninety-one per cent were aware of TC but only 26% knew both the age group most affected (25-34 years) and that TC can be curable if detected early. Although 49% of responders had carried out TSE in the past year, only 22% were practising according to recommendations: feeling for lumps at least monthly. TSE was associated with age >35 years, white ethnicity, knowing someone with TC, having attended a Men's Health Clinic and having heard of the 'Everyman' TC awareness campaign. Although awareness of TC in this GP population was reasonable, less than half were practising TSE. Further public health campaigns may be needed.

Testicular self-examination (TSE) among Dutch young men aged 15-19: determinants of the intention to practice TSE.

The present study analyzed what determinants are important to describe and explain the intention of testicular self-examination (TSE) for young men aged 15-19 attending senior high school (response rate 80%, n = 274). The questionnaire assessed determinants, including knowledge, attitude (positive and negative consequences, anticipated regret, and moral obligation), social influence (social norm, social support and modeling) and self-efficacy. Knowledge of testicular cancer and TSE was very low. Only 2% of the subjects reported regularly performing TSE. After hearing of TSE (through the questionnaire), 41% of all young men had a positive intention to start performing TSE regularly. The various intention groups (positive, neutral and negative) differed significantly on almost all of the determinants. Multiple regression analysis showed that young men who where anxious about TSE and those who were not anxious had different determinants explaining the variance in the intention to perform TSE regularly (R2 = 41-57%). Differences in determinants of intention between young men who are anxious about TSE and young men who are not can be used to design health education interventions that may therefore be more effective for these different subgroups.

Testicular self-examination: education and practices in pediatric residents

Purpose: Although testicular cancer is the most common cancer among 15–35 year old males, physicians seldom conduct testicular self-examination (TSE) education, thus missing opportunities for early detection and treatment. Pediatric residency is an ideal time to initiate TSE skills training and encourage incorporation into routine practice. There are no published studies addressing the medical education and practices of physicians during residency regarding testicular cancer and TSE. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of pediatric residents who teach TSE to their adolescent patients, and significant factors related to teaching TSE.

Promoting the Testicular Self-Exam as a Preventative Health Care Strategy: Do Diagrams Make a Difference?

Even though the threat exists for developing testicular cancer, most men remain completely unaware of the risk and are not performing the testicular self-examination procedure on a regular basis. The current study attempts to test the effectiveness of educational and instructional materials developed for the purpose of teaching men how to perform the TSE. A central question that arises when such an educational project of this nature is undertaken concerns the nature of the depiction of the TSE in diagrams. After exposure to diagrams varying in their degree of detail, men’s reactions concerning TSE attitudes and intentions were assessed. Results indicate that the “no-diagram” condition was found to produce the most favorable reaction to the messages. Implications for the findings are also discussed.

Urological cancers: do early detection strategies exist?

To determine the perceptions of healthcare professionals and the general public about the symptoms, diagnosis and available treatment of urological cancers, and thus the perceived value of screening for their early detection. Two questionnaires were developed, based on semi-structured interviews, and distributed to 288 healthcare professionals, comprising 182 general practitioners (GPs), 56 practice nurses and 50 urology nurses, and to 250 members of the general public in three different socio-economic groups. The questionnaires asked about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of prostate, bladder and testicular cancer, and whether the respondents considered that screening for these cancers would be useful in ameliorating morbidity or death from these diseases. The response rate was very poor (13 of the GPs, 7%; 34 of the nurses, 32%; and 58 members of the general public, 23%). This severely limited the interpretation of the results, but the responses highlighted areas which need addressing. Obvious symptoms were well understood by all the groups but less well-known symptoms could be missed. No GP supported screening for prostate cancer and only seven of the GPs believed in teaching testicular self-examination, but practice nurses were considerably more active in all aspects of patient education. The general public felt that they needed more information to make decisions about urological cancers, although there was a general feeling that 'screening saved lives'. This survey showed that no healthcare professional seems to have a clearly defined role in informing potential patients about screening. The general public, who seem to perceive from the media that early detection is beneficial, are confused by the lack of clarity about policies for urological cancers.

THE ULTRASONIC DESCRIPTION OF POSTPUBERTAL TESTICLES IN MEN WHO HAVE UNDERGONE PREPUBERTAL ORCHIOPEXY FOR CRYPTORCHIDISM

We provide a sonographic description of postpubertal testicles in patients who have undergone prepubertal orchiopexy with placement of a suture through the tunica albuginea. Testicular ultrasound was performed in men who had undergone prepubertal testicular fixation for cryptorchidism using a suture passed through the tunica albuginea. Comparison was made to the sonographic appearance of cryptorchid testicles not secured with a fixating suture through the tunica albuginea. The operative report for each patient was reviewed with specific attention to use and type of suture material, and age at orchiopexy. Ultrasonography was performed on 22 men in whom a tunica albuginea fixating suture was placed during orchiopexy for cryptorchidism. Average patient age at orchiopexy was 5.6 years and median time from orchiopexy to this examination was 14.8 years. Right cryptorchidism existed in 64% of the men. No significant difference was noted in size between the 2 testicles in any patient. Ultrasonography did not identify any parenchymal abnormalities. A tunica albuginea calcification with posterior shadowing on the side of fixation was noted in 32% of patients, of whom 3 had calcified areas evident on physical examination. An area of subtunical hypoechogenicity was noted in 14% of patients. All tunical abnormalities were associated with the use of chromic suture. The remaining 12 patients (54%) had normal sonographic and physical examinations. The control group comprised 6 men who underwent orchiopexy without a fixating suture through the tunica albuginea. These men were examined identically and no sonographic abnormalities were noted in the tunica albuginea or testicular parenchyma. At a median of 16 months no patient had been diagnosed with testicular cancer or had a change in testicular self-examination. Tunica albuginea calcifications and hypoechogenic cysts are common ultrasonic findings in men who have undergone orchiopexy using a suture passed through the tunica albuginea. Parenchymal lesions should not be considered secondary to this procedure and must be treated as de novo abnormalities. These changes seem to be induced by the use of a fixating suture through the tunica albuginea.

Testicular cancer: testicular self-examination and screening.

Testicular cancer represents a significant threat to the health of males aged between 15 and 34 years. As there has been significant focus on early detection of cancers in order to intervene at the earliest opportunity to improve treatment outcomes, the detection of testicular cancer through secondary prevention merits careful consideration. This article discusses two health promotion approaches to dealing with the subject of optimizing men's health: the merits and disadvantages of testicular self-examination education; and screening for testicular tumours in high-risk populations. Recommendations for adapting traditional approaches are also discussed.

Teaching and promoting testicular self-examination.

Testicular cancer is the commonest malignancy of young men, but it also has a high cure rate. This article discusses the teaching and promotion of testicular self-examination as a technique for early detection of the disease.

Young men's knowledge of testicular cancer and testicular self-examination: a lost opportunity?

Testicular cancer remains the most commonly occurring cancer in young men (aged 20-45 years) and recent trends suggest an increase throughout the western world. Whilst testicular cancer is highly treatable late diagnosis resulting in poorer treatment outcomes remains a problem. Testicular self-examination (TSE) a procedure whereby young men can routinely systematically examine their testicles has been advocated as a particularly effective health education intervention. This study aimed to establish the knowledge of testicular cancer and prevalence of TSE practice amongst young men. A descriptive survey approach using a 16-item self-report questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 203 male undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Huddersfield. Results indicated that the majority of the respondents were either uninformed or misinformed about the risks and symptoms of testicular cancer although 78% indicated an interest in accessing information. Only 32% had prior knowledge of TSE, 22% practiced TSE, and worryingly only a single respondent was able to recognize the correct procedure and indicated he regularly practiced TSE. Sixty-eight per cent indicated that TSE should be a part of general health assessments for men. Although some critics of TSE argue the cost of teaching TSE outweighs the benefits in terms of early diagnosis this study suggests that young men may be willing to participate in an aspect of personal health surveillance. If this is the case then low cost strategies to increase impact on the target audience should be considered.

Testicular self-examination (TSE) and testicular ultrasound (TUS) assisted follow-up for the early detection of secondary testicular tumors (STT)

Testicular self-examination (TSE) and testicular ultrasound (TUS) assisted follow-up for the early detection of secondary testicular tumors (STT)

Young men's awareness, attitudes and practice of testicular self-examination: A Health Action Process Approach

One-hundred-and-one Australian university students aged 18-25 years, with a mean age of 22.9 years (SD=1.62) completed a survey assessing testicular self-examination, and knowledge of testicular cancer. A statistically significant difference was found in knowledge scores between performers and non-performers. The factors influencing performance of testicular self-examination were examined using Schwarzer's (1992) Health Action Process Approach as the theoretical framework. Results showed that the majority of men were uninformed or misinformed about testicular cancer and testicular self-examination. Eighty-three per cent of respondents did not perform testicular self-examination once per month as recommended. Intention, outcome expectancies and self-efficacy were the best predictors of testicular self-examination performance. Findings provided some support for the Health Action Process Approach.

Lifestyle and cancer: the relative effects of a workplace health promotion program across gender and social class.

A self-administered cross-sectional survey was used to assess the relative impact of a health promotion program on blue- and white-collar workers of both sexes. The program operated in five different types of organizations and consisted of exercise, nutrition, smoking, stress, breast and testicular self-examination. Significant positive improvements occurred on at least five health behaviors for female workers reporting and four behaviors for male workers, with the greatest gains among blue-collar women. Several study limitations are noted suggesting a cautious interpretation of the results.

Testicular self-examination

Unlike many types of cancer, testicular cancer most often affects young adults. In fact, it is the most common cancer in males between ages 15 and 35. The good news is that treatment is usually very successful. Examination for testicular cancer will probably be included in any physical examinations that you receive at a doctor's office, but you should examine yourself regularly as well.

Variations in self-reported health by occupational grade in the British Post Office: the Q-health project.

Between 1995 and 1998 a national sample of 58,501 (42,885 males, 15,616 females) Post Office employees (29%) completed and returned a postal questionnaire survey providing information on demographic characteristics, physical and psychological health, health and lifestyles and health screening behaviour. Response rates by occupational grade were as follows: manual (male 69.3%, females 43.6%); clerical (male = 11.8%, female, 42.3%); middle management (males 15.5%, females 10.7%) and senior management (males 3.4%, females 3.3%). A number of differences in health status occurred with occupational grade. Angina, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, arthritis, disability, GP consultations and abnormal smears were all more prevalent in lower occupational grades. Height, job satisfaction, seat belt use and breast self-examination were also lower in lower status jobs. Some findings were unexpected: GHQ scores indicated better mental health in lower grades, whilst knowledge and frequency of testicular self-examination and attendance for mammograms were higher in lower grades. Self-reports for asthma, diabetes and family history of bowel cancer were also greater in higher grades. These findings are considered in terms of response bias, health selection, the psychosocial work environment, occupational health interventions and the nature, meaning and organization of social position within the Post Office.