Practice and effectiveness of breast self examination: a selective review of the literature (1977-1989).

From a review of the literature on studies on breast self examination (BSE), it is evident that BSE functions as an effective preventive health behavior. Only 19% to 40% of women practice BSE on a monthly basis, and there is no strong evidence that women who practice monthly BSE perform the procedure correctly. Confidence in BSE performance, prior BSE instruction, and finding some way to remember to do BSE were the factors most positively associated with frequent BSE practice. Women need to be given the facts about breast cancer and information about early detection methods and also need to be taught BSE in such a way that they feel confident in their BSE skills. The most effective way to teach BSE is to teach the woman on her own breasts. Since BSE is a skill, an accurate assessment of the learners' BSE techniques is necessary to adequately evaluate BSE teaching methods.