Research Support



Research Support

Peter F. Cronholm, Jun J. Mao, Giang T. Nguyen and Richard T Paris (2009). A Dilemma in Male Engagement in Preventive Services: Adolescent Males' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Testicular Cancer and Testicular Self Exam

The purpose of the study was to 1) determine the knowledge and attitudes toward testicular cancer (TC) and testicular self-examination (TSE) among adolescent males and 2) to explore associations between knowledge and attitudes toward TC and TSE and intention for appropriate medical care seeking. The researchers questioned if there is an association between patterns of TC associated medical health care seeking (i.e., delayed seeking of medical care) and demographic and potentially influential covariates (e.g., incorrect knowledge of TC at risk age groups and no knowledge of TSE). No theoretical framework was noted.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of two hundred and five 9th-and 10th grade male students. The ethnic distribution of the study population was predominantly Caucasian. A self administered questionnaire was designed to assess the students' knowledge of TC risk groups, knowledge about TSE frequency, health seeking intentions in presence of TC symptoms, knowledge and practice of TSE, and interest in learning how to perform TSE. The data was entered into Microsoft Excel and rechecked for accuracy. The measure of association was the odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression models demonstrated that participants reporting no knowledge of TSE (OR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.32-6.04; p = .007) was significantly associated with report of intention for delayed medical care seeking for symptoms concerning TC, although a lack of knowledge about at-risk age groups for TC was not (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.48-2.28; p = .906). This means that there are 91% chnces that the hypothesis would be rejected.

The study's strength was the sample was made up of males within the TC risk age group. Several limitations in the study were noted. Because a cross-sectional assessment of a convenience sample of adolescent males was used, a causal relationship cannot be determined with results best used for hypothesis generation for further development. Increased rates of TC awareness may be related to demographic differences among the different study samples. Self-report data is potentially biased in terms of social desirability and telescoping that could inflate the estimates of TC awareness. The survey measured reported behaviors and did not measure actual behaviors.

This study found an association between reports of never having heard of TSE and the intention for delayed health seeking (p = .007). These findings support the purpose of this project, which is to raise awareness of TC and promote TSE in the risk age group.

Kenneth D. Ward, et al (2005). Testicular Cancer Awareness and Self-Examination Among Adolescent Males in a Community-Based Youth Organization

The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the knowledge of TC and performance of TSE and 2) identify potentially useful interventions to increase awareness of TC and performance of TSE in adolescent boys. The research question asked what characteristics and behaviors are associated with awareness ...