Training and maintenance of breast self-examination skills.

Maintenance of breast self-examination (BSE) skills is crucial to the effectiveness of self-exams in early detection of breast tumors. Although researchers have developed an effective technology for training in these skills, the actual maintenance of such skills remains questionable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of reassessment (and retraining) on maintenance of BSE skills. Twenty-nine women (ages 25-64 years) were trained to complete BSE using the MammaCare training program. Experimental subjects were required to demonstrate their skills at a two-month reassessment and received retraining if their skills had declined below set standards. Measures of proficiency were obtained by requiring all subjects to examine breast models at pretraining, posttraining, and two follow-ups (four months and one year). Lump detection rates were significantly higher in the experimental group at both follow-ups. The control group showed a significant decrease in lump detection rates between posttraining and each follow-up. Results suggest that, after training, periodic reassessment (and retraining) could prevent significant deterioration of BSE skills.