Rethinking Breast Self-Examinations
Author Information
Author(s): Danish Steven J., Chopin Suzzette M., Conley Kathryn
Primary Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
Hypothesis
Can teaching breast self-examination (BSE) effectively reduce breast cancer mortality rates?
Conclusion
Teaching women how to conduct breast self-examinations competently and regularly may help in early detection of breast cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Training in BSE was conducted by Hadassah’s 'Check it Out!' program.
- 100% of girls in both control and intervention groups had heard of BSE.
- Intervention group girls scored higher on knowledge of BSE compared to control group girls.
Takeaway
Learning how to check your own breasts can help find cancer early, which is really important for staying healthy.
Methodology
The study involved a health intervention program teaching BSE to 9th graders, with data analyzed from pre- and post-tests.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported data on BSE practices.
Limitations
The study did not address the long-term effects of BSE on breast cancer mortality.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 9th grade adolescents, predominantly white (71.4%) and African American.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0009
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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