Testicular Self-Examination in an Adult Community Sample

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of relationship status on participants’ knowledge of testicular cancer and their current and planned testicular self-examination (TSE) behavior. Adult male civil servants ( N = 188) were recruited in the northwest of the United Kingdom (mean age = 33.37 years, SD = 10.77). The survey instrument asked about current and intended TSE practice, knowledge of testicular cancer, as well as attitudes and beliefs toward testicular cancer and self-examination. Factor analysis identified five factors equating to the benefits of TSE, fear, perceived risk, knowledge, and fatality. In logistic regression models, the benefits of TSE, fear, and knowledge significantly predict current TSE behaviors, whereas the benefits of TSE and perceived risk predicted future TSE intentions. Models predicting TSE practice differed according to relationship status. The findings suggest that strategies designed to promote TSE should be sensitive to individual differences in the influences on a person’s motivation to engage in TSE.