The effect of testicular self-examination education on health beliefs in adult men: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Testicular cancer is primarily detected by the patient or their sexual partner and is most commonly diagnosed in men between the ages of 15 and 35. This study aims to assess the impact of self-examination education on health beliefs among adult men. Materials and methods: This study, which is a systematic review and meta-analysis, obtained studies by searching PubMed, Web of Scıence, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, ProQuest and YOK Thesis Centre databases without a year limitation. After the reviews, 12 studies were included in the study. Data were synthesised by meta-analysis and narrative methods. Results: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that self-examination education significantly influences health beliefs in adult men (SMD: 1.790; 95% CI: 0.954 to 2.624; Z = 4.198, p = 0.00; I² = 99.109%). Conclusion: This study highlights that self-examination education may play an influential role in the shaping of adult men’s health beliefs, potentially contributing to the early detection and prevention of testicular cancer.