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Testicular self-examination: an argument against routine teaching.
Family Practice
|June 1, 1987
Summary
Routine testicular self-examination for young men is not recommended by physicians. Despite rising cure rates for testicular cancer, current evidence suggests better uses for healthcare resources and physician time.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Primary care physicians face increasing demands to incorporate new procedures and patient education.
- There is a growing recommendation for routine teaching of testicular self-examination (TSE) to young adult males.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate testicular self-examination (TSE) as a screening tool for testicular cancer.
- To assess the efficacy, effectiveness, availability, and efficiency of TSE.
Main Methods:
- Review of the current status of testicular tumors, including incidence and cure rates.
- Critical analysis of self-examination as a screening modality.
- Assessment of TSE based on key performance indicators.
Main Results:
- Testicular cancer has a low incidence but a rising cure rate.
- The article presents an approach to critically evaluate TSE as a screening tool.
- The authors question the overall benefit of routine TSE.
Conclusions:
- The potential efficacy, effectiveness, availability, and efficiency of TSE were assessed.
- Healthcare funds and physician time could be allocated more effectively.
- Routine teaching of TSE to young men is not supported by the authors' evaluation.