Evaluation of a Danish teaching program in breast self-examination

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Women's Health

Background:

• Breast self-examination (BSE) is a crucial component of early breast cancer detection.
• Understanding the impact of structured training on BSE practices is vital for improving women's health outcomes.
• Previous studies highlight variability in BSE knowledge and technique among women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a formal Breast Self-Examination (BSE) training program.
• To assess the impact of training on women's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to BSE.
• To compare BSE practices and knowledge between women who received training and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study design involving 629 women who participated in a BSE training program.
• A matched control group of 629 women was selected for comparison.
• Postal questionnaires were used to collect data on BSE knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Main Results:

• Women who attended BSE training demonstrated significantly higher knowledge of how, when, and what to do if breast changes are discovered (97% vs. 66%).
• The intervention group showed a significantly higher likelihood of performing BSE regularly (66% vs. 52%) and using a correct technique (44% vs. 20%).
• No significant differences were found in confidence levels for detecting breast changes or beliefs about BSE's impact on cancer recovery between groups. Anxiety levels related to BSE were also similar.

Conclusions:

• A formal BSE training program is effective in increasing women's knowledge and the likelihood of performing BSE regularly.
• Training enhances the correct technique used for BSE, contributing to more effective breast self-monitoring.
• These findings support the integration of structured BSE training into women's health initiatives to improve early breast cancer detection rates.