Increased proficiency of search in breast self-examination

Two experiments were conducted to assess the relative thoroughness of three search patterns for breast self-examination (BSE). Experiment 1 compared the commonly taught concentric circles (CC) pattern to a new pattern composed of vertical strips (VS). Experiment 2 compared a radial spoke (RS) pattern to the VS pattern. Twenty-eight female subjects participated in each experiment. Each learned BSE and was post-tested using the two patterns under investigation; order of presentation was counterbalanced. BSE thoroughness was measured with the aid of a numbered grid projected on the subject's chest allowing an observer to mark each square of the grid palpated on a congruently gridded scoresheet. The percentage of the cone of the breast and of the totality of the breast tissue examined was calculated for each exam. Experiment 1 showed that the VS pattern engendered more thorough coverage of the total breast area (64.4% vs. 38.9%) and of the cone (64.1% vs. 48.7%). The results of Experiment 2 were similar: the VS pattern produced more thorough coverage of the total area (67.9% vs. 44.7%) and of the cone (70.3% vs. 57.2%). All differences were statistically reliable. Of 112 intrasubject comparisons involving the VS pattern, it produced more thorough coverage in all but nine. These results indicate that the VS pattern is the pattern of choice for maximally effective BSE.