Teaching of breast self examination. Is it practical?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Breast cancer screening is crucial for early detection.
• Breast self-examination (BSE) is a widely promoted screening tool.
• Standardized methods for teaching and assessing BSE technique are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching program for breast self-examination (BSE).
• To evaluate the long-term retention of BSE skills among women attending outpatient clinics.
• To establish a reliable method for assessing BSE competence.

Main Methods:

• 348 women attending Royal Hobart Hospital outpatient clinics were interviewed and assessed for their BSE technique.
• A standardized BSE competence assessment method was developed using a silicone breast examination model and criteria from the Tasmanian Cancer Committee.
• Instruction in BSE was provided by the study authors.

Main Results:

• A standard method for assessing BSE competence was successfully devised.
• Follow-up assessments of 11 women showed that the benefits of the BSE teaching persisted for seven to 10 months.
• This indicates good skill retention after the educational intervention.

Conclusions:

• Structured teaching of breast self-examination (BSE) is effective in improving and maintaining women's competence.
• The developed assessment method provides a reliable tool for evaluating BSE skills.
• Long-term retention of BSE skills suggests potential for improved breast cancer awareness and early detection.