Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of 5th and 6th Grade Medical Students About Testicular Cancer

Abstract Background and Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the last two semesters of medical faculty students who will start to practice medicine in the near future and to investigate their beliefs about this subject. Materials and Methods This descriptive study conducted between 01-10-2018 and 31-07-2019. The population of the study consisted of 5th and 6th grade students of a medical faculty 278 students. Results 52.2% of the students had heard of self-testicular examination. 15.5% of male students reported that they performed self-testicular examination. 13.3% of the students reported that they received training in this subject in medical education. The rate of those students who stated that this issue was shown practically in clinics was 2.9%. For Champion's Health Belief Model Scale’s sub-sections, the mean for sensitivity was 11.01 ± 4.36, triviality-seriousness was 20.58 ± 5.92, benefits was 11,46 ± 2,99, barriers was 10,14 ± 4,04, and the mean of self-efficacy was 18.64 ± 5.26. Conclusion and Recommendations: According to the Health Belief Model, students' sensitivity to the subject was below the expected average score, the importance was above the expected average score, believing in the benefits of TSE (testicular self-examination) was higher than the average, the TSE barriers were below the average, and the self-efficacy scores were above the average. Medical students should be more sensitive about testicular cancer and their TSE rates should be increased and their behaviors to recommend and teach this examination to their patients should be increased.