Educating Young Men About Testicular Cancer: Support for a Comprehensive Testicular Cancer Campaign

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of testicular cancer among men 15–39 years of age, little has been done to increase awareness of this disease or educate males about its prevention. To fill this gap, the Standard Model of Health Communication was incorporated to design and implement a comprehensive testicular cancer campaign among male college students. To test the effectiveness of these messages, college students (N = 220) completed measures before and after the campaign. In addition, the authors obtained a control group of male college students (N = 52) who were not exposed to the messages. Survey items assessed awareness of testicular cancer and behaviors related to testicular cancer. Participants' knowledge of testicular cancer and likelihood of conducting a testicular self-exam increased significantly after being exposed to the campaign information. Men who were exposed to testicular cancer messages were more knowledgeable about testicular cancer and were more likely to conduct testicular self-examinations than were men in the control group.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the students enrolled in COM360, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Philip Aliotta, M.D., and everyone else who helped to make this campaign a success.

Notes

Note. All attitude and health behaviors were rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Note. Information/knowledge and behavioral intention items are responded to on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Behavior items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The testicular cancer knowledge quiz consists of 10 true/false items with one point awarded for each correct answer, so the total score can range from 0 to 10. Effect size is calculated as posttest mean minus pretest mean divided by pretest standard deviation. Percent change represents the percentage increase from pretest to posttest in each measure relative to the pretest mean and is calculated as posttest mean minus pretest mean divided by pretest mean.

Note. Information/knowledge and behavioral intention items are responded to on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Behavior items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The testicular cancer knowledge quiz consists of 10 true/false items with one point awarded for each correct answer so the total score can range from 0 to 10. Effect size is calculated as Cohen's d.