title: Knowledge and screening of testicular cancer in the French Armed Forces: a prospective study.
abstract: We performed a prospective study in the French Armed Forces regarding testicular cancer. Our primary objective was to assess whether willingness to have a testicular examination by medical doctor could be improved by a self-administered questionnaire through invitation to self-reflection. A total of 415 soldiers were enrolled. The study used a test-posttest design in that soldiers estimated their willingness to have a testicular palpation before and after responding to a self-administered questionnaire. The willingness to have testicular palpation significantly increased after responding to the questionnaire (p < 0.000001). Acceptance of testicular palpation after responding the questionnaire did not change in 82.25%, increased in 15%, and decreased in 2.75%. Analysis of responses to the questionnaire showed that 26.75% of soldiers (n = 107) had previously received general information on testicular cancer and 85.8% (n = 343) declared that they would be delighted if they were proposed a short educational course on testicular cancer. As a conclusion, this study demonstrates that the willingness to have a testicular examination by medical doctor could be easily improved, since there is a strong demand on medical education regarding testicular cancer.
authors: Medical and Radiation Oncology, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées du Val-de-Grâce, 74 Boulevard de Port Royal, 75005 Paris, France.
authors: Romain
authors: R
authors: Kedzierewicz
authors: Cyrus
authors: C
authors: Chargari
authors: Sylvestre
authors: S
authors: Le Moulec
authors: Nicole Jacques
authors: NJ
authors: Ferrandez
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Ceccaldi
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Houlgatte
authors: Lionel
authors: L
authors: Vedrine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D010173:Palpation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*