Effects of Testicular Self-Examination Training Methods on Students' Behaviors and Health Beliefs

NCT07841041 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/12- 362602
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 122
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to evaluate and compare the effects of different testicular self-examination (TSE) training methods on university students' health beliefs and self-examination behaviors regarding testicular cancer (TC) and TSE. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does receiving brochure-based education or brochure plus audio recordings of TC patient experiences improve students' health beliefs (perceived susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, self-efficacy, and reduced barriers)?
• Which educational method is more effective in increasing the frequency and performance of testicular self-examination behaviors compared to a control group? Researchers will compare three groups:
• Intervention Group 1: Receives an educational brochure on TC and TSE.
• Intervention Group 2: Receives an educational brochure combined with audio recordings of testicular cancer survivor/patient experiences.
• Control Group: Receives no specific educational intervention during the study period. Participants will:
• Complete baseline questionnaires regarding demographic information, TC/TSE knowledge, health beliefs, and baseline examination practices.
• Receive the assigned educational material/session according to their randomized cluster.
• Complete follow-up evaluations at 3 months post-intervention to assess changes in health beliefs, knowledge, and TSE behaviors.

Conditions

Testicular Cancer; Testicular Self-Examination; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Behavior

  Measured using the TSE Behavior Determination Form to evaluate whether the students perform regular testicular self-examination.

  At baseline and at 6 weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Champion's Health Belief Model Scale Scores

  At baseline and at 6 weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (3)

Intervention 2 (Educational Brochure Group)

EXPERIMENTAL

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students between, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). At the end of the sixth week following the pre-test, the educational brochure group received their respective protocol, followed by post-tests comprising the TSE Behavior Determination Form and the TSE Behavior and Educational Tool Satisfaction Form.

Behavioral: Educational Brochure

Control Group (No Intervention)

OTHER

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). For the control group, no active educational intervention was administered following the pre-test, and only the TSE Behavior Determination Form was applied as a post-test at the end of the sixth week.

Other: Control Group

Intervention 1 (Educational Brochure and Experience-Sharing Recordings Group)

EXPERIMENTAL

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). At the end of the sixth week following the pre-test, the educational brochure and audio-recorded experience-sharing intervention group received their respective protocol, followed by post-tests comprising the TSE Behavior Determination Form and the TSE Behavior and Educational Tool Satisfaction Form.

Behavioral: Educational Brochure and Audio Recording

Interventions

Educational Brochure and Audio Recording BEHAVIORAL

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). At the end of the sixth week following the pre-test, the brochure and audio-recorded experience-sharing intervention group received their respective protocol, followed by post-tests comprising the TSE Behavior Determination Form and the TSE Behavior and Educational Tool Satisfaction Form.

Intervention 1 (Educational Brochure and Experience-Sharing Recordings Group)

Educational Brochure BEHAVIORAL

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). At the end of the sixth week following the pre-test, the educational brochure intervention group received their respective protocol, followed by post-tests comprising the TSE Behavior Determination Form and the TSE Behavior and Educational Tool Satisfaction Form.

Intervention 2 (Educational Brochure Group)

Control Group OTHER

Following face-to-face recruitment, obtaining informed consent, and collecting phone numbers from eligible university students, pre-tests-including the Introductory and Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) Characteristics Form along with Champion's Health Belief Model Scale-were administered online via Google Forms via WhatsApp (approximate completion time: 15 minutes). For the control group, no active educational intervention was administered following the pre-test, and only the TSE Behavior Determination Form was applied as a post-test at the end of the sixth week.

Control Group (No Intervention)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being biologically male
• Being an active university student enrolled at the university
• Being aged 18 years or older
• Having native or fluent Turkish literacy (reading and writing)
• Having access to a technological device (smartphone, computer, or tablet) with an active internet connection to access digital materials and surveys
• Voluntary agreement to participate in the study and providing informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Previous clinical diagnosis of testicular cancer or any other testicular/scrotal malignancy
• Having undergone major scrotal or testicular surgery (e.g., orchiectomy)
• Prior formal or professional training on testicular self-examination (TSE) within the last 6 months
• Inability to complete the educational intervention or follow-up assessments due to sensory or cognitive impairments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yeditepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yeditepe University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Testicular Neoplasms; Health Behavior; Behavior

Interventions

Sound Recordings; Control Groups

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Urogenital Neoplasms; Genital Diseases, Male; Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Testicular Diseases; Gonadal Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Audiovisual Aids; Educational Technology; Technology; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor & Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 20, 2026
• First Posted: September 25, 2026
• Study Start: January 6, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2025
• Study Completion: January 5, 2026
• Last Updated: September 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

TU (1)