Registered nurses' breast self-examination practice and teaching to female clients

Many registered nurses (RNs) do not regularly perform breast self-examination (BSE), and even fewer routinely teach the procedure. The aim of this descriptive survey was to investigate registered nurses' BSE practice and teaching to female clients. A systematic random sample of 171 female Australian RNs aged 20 to 65 who worked in acute or long-term care areas was surveyed. A questionnaire I developed and mailed to participants was used to collect the data, and descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. Ninety-three percent of participants reported performing BSE in the preceding 12 months. However, less than half (46%) had performed BSE monthly, and the major reason cited for not performing monthly BSE was "forgetting" (57%). Most participants (81%) stated they did not include the teaching of BSE in their nursing care; the major reason identified was "it was not relevant to their work context" (86%). However, 77% indicated feeling confident in teaching BSE, and most (94%) would teach BSE if they had the opportunity. Furthermore, participants were found to be more likely to teach BSE if they performed monthly BSE, felt confident with their BSE teaching skills, and had completed other nursing courses. The implications of this study are that nurses' teaching to clients may be increased if more emphasis on BSE occurs in the workplace and in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Also, the provision of BSE educational programs is necessary to increase nurses' knowledge, confidence, performance, and teaching of BSE.