Testicular Cancer Awareness among Men Residing in the Maltese Islands

Abstract BackgroundTesticular cancer (TC) accounts for around one percent of all cancers in men. Early detection is of utmost importance for recovery and survivorship. Testicular self-examination (TSE) has been shown to be effective in preventing late-stage TC diagnosis. However, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness of both TC and TSE in men. Increasing such awareness may contribute towards earlier TC detection and positive outcomes. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge of a representative sample of the Maltese male population on TC and TSE. It also explores men’s willingness to learn about and perform TSE as well as their suggested approaches for TC and TSE information provision.MethodsA telephone interview approach was chosen using an interview schedule, developed based on established literature. Data were collected from a random sample of 400 male respondents aged 16 years or over and stratified according to all ages and districts of Malta. ResultsThe findings of this study indicate that Maltese males lack knowledge on TC and how to carry out TSE. Only 36.9% respondents had knowledge on how to perform TSE and 33.9% had practised TSE at least once in their lives. Higher educated, higher income and younger respondents scored better. This study also found that only 9.6% of respondents were informed by a doctor about TSE, indicating a notable gap in information provision. However, 87.3% of respondents knew that TC can be treated if identified at an early stage and 90.2% of males were ready to perform TSE on a regular basis if informed how to perform it. The majority of participants believed that increasing awareness of TC and TSE is important. ConclusionsKnowledge on TC and TSE is low in Malta. Health education campaigns are needed to inform the general population about the risks of TC and how to perform TSE. Such campaigns could improve early detection and hence a decrease in the number of advanced TC cases. The findings of this study are being used by the Ministry for Health and the Marigold Foundation to launch campaigns to raise awareness about TC and TSE.