Clinical breast examination and breast self-examination experience in a family practice population

A patient questionnaire, chart audit, and resident questionnaire were used to assess clinical breast examination and breast self-examination experience in a family practice patient population. It was found that approximately 50 percent of the women studied reported annual routine breast examinations during a five-year study period. However, the residency program was responsible for providing or documenting annual clinical examinations in only ten percent of the population. Although 99 percent of the women knew about Breast Self-Examination (BSE), only 19 percent practiced monthly BSE. A positive association was found between the physician's active teaching of BSE and the patient's confidence in and regular practice of BSE. The low number of annual clinical examinations and low performance of BSE may be explained partially by the physician's setting too narrowly the parameters of when a clinical breast examination and BSE teaching could be done appropriately, ie, a pap smear/pelvic or general examination. A more aggressive approach by the physician may increase the number of women who get routine clinical breast examinations and who supplement them by monthly BSE.