Development of a competency-based curriculum for training women in breast self-examination skills

It is expected that there will be 178,700 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in American women during 1998. This corresponds to a new breast cancer diagnosis every 3 minutes. In the absence of any preventive measures at this time, control of breast cancer morbidity and mortality must be sought through early detection and treatment. A competency-based training curriculum in breast self-examination was developed that incorporated three specific skill components: a systematic pattern of search; palpation topography discrimination training; and use of appropriate finger pressure for examination. A computer-assisted breast model was built and piloted for use in this study. The design, implementation, and validation of this program as a platform to train women and advanced practice nurses in breast self-examination is described.