[Testicular cancer--self-awareness and testicular self-examination in soldiers and physicians in the Israeli army].
Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in young men. To evaluate knowledge and awareness of that cancer, and of the practice of testicular self-examination (TSE), we developed a questionnaire which was distributed to 717 male soldiers and 200 of their military physicians. 21% of the soldiers had received some explanation of the importance of TSE, but only 16% were actually instructed how to perform TSE, and only 2% practiced it regularly. 24% had never examined their testicles before, 185 only rarely, and 6% often. With increased age, TSE frequency increased, but previous education, type of military unit, and ethnic origin had no affect. 99% of military physicians had been taught how to examine breasts, but only 70% had been taught routine testicular examination. 22% performed it, but 27% never did. 84% had never taught their soldiers the importance of TSE, although 51% taught female soldiers breast self-examination. There was a significant lack of awareness of the importance of regular practice of TSE among both soldiers and their army physicians.
Tichler
T
T
Dept. of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
Weitzen
R
R
Feinstone
A
A
Orvieto
R
R
Moskovitz
M
M
Singer
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians; D016353:Self-Examination; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*