Breast and testicular self-examination in primary care

Among a random sample of Michigan family physicians, attitudes about encouraging patients to perform breast and testicular self-examination were very positive. The physicians' self-reported incorporation of such encouragement into their practices was much lower for testicular than breast self-examination. Two hundred seventy-eight randomly selected family physicians in Michigan were surveyed about their beliefs about and professional practices regarding encouraging patients to perform breast self-examination (BSE) and testicular self-examination (TSE). Attitudes were very positive about both techniques. Self-reported incorporation of patient encouragement into professional practice was much lower for TSE than for BSE. The physicians' own personal practices were similarly skewed: female physicians performed BSE for themselves far more regularly than young male physicians did TSE. The barriers they identified to incorporating encouragement into their practices were similar for testicular and breast self-examination, with lack of patient motivation the leading barrier seen.