A Dilemma in Male Engagement in Preventive Services: Adolescent Males' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Testicular Cancer and Testicular Self-Exam

• Main Authors: Peter F. Cronholm MD, MSCE, Jun J. Mao MD, MSCE, Giang T. Nguyen MD, MPH, Richard T. Paris MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2009-06-01
• Series: American Journal of Men's Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988308315071

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes toward testicular cancer (TC) and testicular self-exam (TSE) among adolescent males. To assess adolescent male perspectives, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample of 203 male high school students. Among the study participants, 139 (68.5%) correctly identified the age group when TC most commonly occurs, and 74 (36.5%) believed that TSE should be performed monthly. In a logistic regression model, students who have never heard of TSE were more likely to report intention to delay health care seeking with symptoms of testicular cancer (odds ratio, 2.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-6.05; p = .007). The participants demonstrated significant awareness of TC. Given the tension between current recommendations against screening for TC and the potential benefits of engaging men in preventive health care utilization, it remains unclear how awareness of TC and TSE will affect the health-seeking and preventive care of men.