Promoting testicular self-examination and awareness amongst young men with learning disability

ISRCTN ISRCTN67971984
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN67971984
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
24/06/2011
Registration date
25/08/2011
Last edited
24/10/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting males between 15 and 34 years of age. Evidence suggests that men with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at increased risk of testicular cancer and may present late in the progression of the disease. The aim is to study the effect of two different educational programs in young men with ID.

Who can participate?
Males aged 16 or over, registered with a GP, known to learning disability services or on the learning disability register or known to have Down syndrome and the ability to consent.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to either a ‘teaching’ group or a ‘leaflet’ group. The teaching sessions will be carried out with small groups with a maximum of six members in each. The teaching will be conducted by a Community Learning Disability Nurse Manager and a research assistant with learning disabilities. The teaching will be carried out in two 30-minute sessions. Participants in the leaflet group will be given a seven-page pictorial leaflet and encouraged to take it away and discuss with family, friends or carers if they wish. The effects of the interventions were assessed in terms of knowledge and skills, attitudes and anxiety one week after the interventions and again after 6 months.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
This study teaches young men with ID how to spot the early signs of testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is almost always curable if found early. When young men with ID receive information in an accessible form they can feel more confident about having influence over their health and seeking help, leading to reduced anxiety levels. There are no foreseeable risks to participants.

Where is the study run from?
In London at various colleges, day centres, voluntary organisations and youth clubs

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study took place between 2002 and 2003

Who is funding the study?
Department of Health - Primary Care Studies Programme

Who is the main contact?
Baroness Hollins
shollins@sgul.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Sheila Hollins
Scientific

St George's University of London
Division of PHSE
Cranmer Terrace
London
SW17 0RE
United Kingdom

Email shollins@sgul.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-centre randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeDiagnostic
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titlePromoting testicular self-examination and awareness amongst young men with learning disability: a randomised controlled trial
Study objectivesNull Hypothesis: Men who take part in a teaching programme will not illustrate a greater knowledge of testicular cancer, symptoms and signs or a greater skill with regard to self-examination than the control group who receive a suitably designed leaflet on the subject within (a) one week of intervention and (b) six months after the intervention.
Ethics approval(s)1. Wandsworth LREC, 25/10/2011, ref: 01.78.23
2. Kingston and Richmond LREC, November 2001
3. Merton and Sutton LREC, November 2001
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTesticular cancer awareness
Intervention1. Teaching programme (intervention group)
2. Educative leaflet (control)

The intervention group received two 30-minute education sessions and the control group received a 7-page pictorial leaflet. The follow-up was at 1 week and again at 6 months. The duration of the intervention was 6 months
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. State / Trait Anxiety Inventory
2. Wells Health Anxiety
3. Health Locus of Control, confidence and self-efficacy with regard to testicular self-exam and seeking help

All measures adopted existing inventories so as to be accessible to learning disability group. Used linear analogue scales. Measured at baseline, one week and six months post intervention.
Secondary outcome measuresAssessment of health anxiety
Overall study start date01/12/2001
Completion date30/03/2003

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexMale
Target number of participants192 (96 per arm of study)
Key inclusion criteria1. Males aged 16 or over
2. Registered with a general practitioner (GP)
3. Known to learning disability services or on the learning disability register or known to have Down Syndrome
4. Have capacity to consent
Key exclusion criteriaLack of capacity to consent
Date of first enrolment01/12/2001
Date of final enrolment30/03/2003

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

St George's University of London
London
SW17 0RE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

St George's University of London (UK)
University/education

Cranmer Terrace
London
SW17 0RE
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.sgul.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/040f08y74

Funders

Funder type

Government

Department of Health (UK) - Primary Care Studies Programme

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/06/2018 24/10/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

24/10/2019: Publication reference added.
09/08/2016: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.