title: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Studies , Canisius College , Buffalo , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Melissa Bekelja
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wanzer
authors.forename: S Catherine
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Servoss
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LaBelle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult