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
Ateya Megahed Ibrahim , Amirat A. Al-Sabeely , Ishraga A. Mohamed , Marwa A. Shahin , Ali D Abousoliman , Laila Zeidan Ghazy Mohammed
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
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.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (IJANS) is an international scientific journal published by Elsevier. The broad-based journal was founded on two key tenets, i.e. to publish the most exciting research with respect to the subjects of Nursing and Midwifery in Africa, and secondly, to advance the international understanding and development of nursing and midwifery in Africa, both as a profession and as an academic discipline. The fully refereed journal provides a forum for all aspects of nursing and midwifery sciences, especially new trends and advances. The journal call for original research papers, systematic and scholarly review articles, and critical papers which will stimulate debate on research, policy, theory or philosophy of nursing as related to nursing and midwifery in Africa, technical reports, and short communications, and which will meet the journal''s high academic and ethical standards. Manuscripts of nursing practice, education, management, and research are encouraged. The journal values critical scholarly debate on issues that have strategic significance for educators, practitioners, leaders and policy-makers of nursing and midwifery in Africa. The journal publishes the highest quality scholarly contributions reflecting the diversity of nursing, and is also inviting international scholars who are engaged with nursing and midwifery in Africa to contribute to the journal. We will only publish work that demonstrates the use of rigorous methodology as well as by publishing papers that highlight the theoretical underpinnings of nursing and midwifery as it relates to the Africa context.