Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Cancer Epidemiol. 2010 Apr;34(2):212-9. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2009.12.008. Epub 2010 Jan 8.
The value of testicular cancer (TC) education, and in particular advice on testicular self-examination (TSE), has been widely debated by health professionals. One concern centres on its potential to cause unnecessary anxiety among the target population. Views outside the health professional community about TC education's potential benefits and harms have not previously been described. The objective of this study was to investigate the range of views expressed by specific groups thought to have an interest in provision of TC education.
One-to-one, in-depth interviews with 37 men and women were completed. Participants included TC patients, men with no prior diagnosis of TC, and parents and teachers of adolescent boys. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using the Framework approach to produce a thematic description of views expressed.
Participants were unanimously in favour of TC education. Key perceived benefits included earlier cancer detection through increasing knowledge of symptoms leading to better treatment outcomes, and motivating help-seeking by reducing emotional barriers such as fear of cancer or embarrassment. Anxiety was acknowledged as a possible harm but was not expected to be widespread or serious.
TC education is viewed favourably by members of the public likely to be interested in its provision. Education's potential to cause anxiety was not considered a disincentive to promoting disease awareness.
睾丸癌（TC）教育的价值，特别是关于睾丸自我检查（TSE）的建议，一直受到卫生专业人员的广泛争论。其中一个关注点是它可能会给目标人群带来不必要的焦虑。以前没有描述过卫生专业人员社区以外的人对 TC 教育的潜在益处和危害的看法。本研究的目的是调查被认为对 TC 教育提供有兴趣的特定群体所表达的各种观点。
对 37 名男性和女性进行了一对一的深入访谈。参与者包括 TC 患者、没有 TC 既往诊断的男性以及青少年男孩的父母和老师。使用框架方法对逐字记录进行分析，以产生对表达的观点的主题描述。
参与者一致赞成 TC 教育。主要认为的好处包括通过增加对导致更好治疗结果的症状的了解来提高癌症检测率，并通过减少对癌症的恐惧或尴尬等情感障碍来促进寻求帮助。承认焦虑是一种可能的危害，但预计不会广泛或严重。
对可能对其提供感兴趣的公众来说，TC 教育受到好评。教育引起焦虑的潜在可能性并没有被认为是阻碍提高疾病意识的因素。
