Fostering health advocacy: Unveiling educational impact on testicular cancer awareness in male university students – Health belief model and social support strategy in a groundbreaking Pre-Post Quasi-Experimental study

Background

Testicular cancer represents a considerable health issue for young adults, including university students, yet there is a lack of specialized interventions targeting this demographic. Drawing from the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Support Strategy, an educational campaign seeks to empower male university students by providing them with information and encouraging proactive self-examination practices concerning testicular cancer.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of this educational intervention, utilizing the HBM and Social Support, in enhancing testicular cancer awareness and encouraging self-examination among male university students through a pioneering pre-post quasi-experimental study.

Methods

A pre-post quasi-experimental study engaged 350 university students from Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, KSA, over a period of five months, from June to October 2023. The intervention comprised seven training sessions, encompassing sociodemographic information, knowledge assessment, evaluation of the Health Belief Model (HBM), and an assessment of the social support strategy.

Results

Following the intervention, participants, with a mean age of 20.8 ± 13.5 years, exhibited significant improvements across various domains. These enhancements encompassed increased knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, recognized benefits, self-efficacy, cues to action, social support, and performance in Testicular Self-Examination.

Conclusion

The research underscores the effectiveness of an intervention grounded in Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs and social support in cultivating preventive behaviours against testicular cancer among university students. This establishes a foundation for future educational interventions aimed at promoting awareness and proactive measures against testicular cancer within this demographic.

Recommendations

The study recommends implementing targeted campaigns that collaborate closely with healthcare professionals, utilize interactive platforms, and exhibit cultural sensitivity. It emphasizes the importance of regular follow-ups, public awareness initiatives, school-based programs, and ongoing adaptation based on emerging research as essential components of a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of testicular cancer through behaviour modification.