Assessing the need for Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) training: the Oregon experience

Despite the widely held perception that CBE training has high priority among the continuing medical education (CME) needs of breast health care providers, there is actually little published information to support this notion.

The authors conducted a statewide needs assessment mail survey of providers regarding a number of potential CME needs, including CBE training.

Of the 4,179 surveys from the single mailing, 1,427 were returned (34% response rate). Six categories of provider types responded; 51% were physicians and 23% were nurse practitioners. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents were female; 96% felt that routine CBE was an important or very important part of providing breast care. Although 79% of all respondents performed CBE at least weekly and 41% performed more than ten CBEs/week, 80% were interested in receiving some form of CME regarding CBE, and 79% of those who performed CBE at least weekly were interested in receiving skill-based CBE training.

Despite the respondent bias inherent in survey studies, it can be concluded that there is indeed a CME need for CBE training, even among providers who perform CBE frequently. Based on these findings the authors are implementing a statewide CME program of CBE training.