Autoexame e câncer de testículos: conhecimento de estudantes de Educação Física

Abstract

Testicular cancer has increased in Brazil. Between 2013 and 2020, there was an increasing trend in the number of cases and deaths from this type of cancer, especially among people aged 20 to 29. The lack of knowledge among young men about testicular cancer, associated with low practice of testicular self-examination, demonstrates the need for awareness and health education on the topic. The objective of this research was to describe the knowledge of physical education students about testicular self-examination and testicular cancer. This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach carried out with 32 students from the physical education course at a Private College, located in a city in the interior of Mato Grosso. The results identified that 56.3% were aged 21 to 25 and 75.5% were single. It is noteworthy that 81.3% have heard about testicular cancer, 87.5% do not know how to perform testicular self-examination, 87.5% do not perform self-examination, 43.7% say that self-examination should be done at every 6 months, 43.7% stated that self-examination should be carried out monthly and 12.5% believe that it should be done once a year. In view of the above, it is noteworthy that the topic of selfexamination and testicular cancer should be addressed with physical education students as they will be future professionals who will work in schools and gyms, being able to disseminate information in these environments. Furthermore, there is also the importance of body self-knowledge, as well as encouraging self-care and early diagnosis of testicular changes.