TESTICULAR-CARCINOMA - A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND PRACTICE OF TESTICULAR SELF-EXAMINATION IN MALE SOLDIERS AND MILITARY PHYSICIANS

Multiple-choice questionnaires devised to evaluate knowledge and aware ness of testicular carcinoma and the practice of testicular self-exami nation (TSE) were distributed to 717 male soldiers and 200 military ph ysicians in the Israeli army. Twenty-one percent of the soldiers had r eceived explanations about the importance of TSE; 16% actually receive d instruction on TSE; yet only 2% practiced TSE regularly. Seventy per cent of physicians had been taught how to examine testicles, but only 10% of physicians examined testicles in their routine physical exams. TSE was practiced most frequently among soldiers who had received inst ruction in the technique. Physicians should encourage their young male patients to practice TSE.