Increasing breast self-examination in college women: a comparison of five treatments

Abstract

Monthly breast self-examination (BSE) is a method of early detection of breast cancer (BC) that is recommended for all women over the age of 19. Yet, few women actually practice monthly BSEs consistently. The effects of five increasingly complex treatment interventions and mailed monthly reminders on increasing monthly BSE in 206 college women were investigated over a 6-month period. The five interventions were control (no treatment), treatment A (information only), treatment B (information and videotaped testimonial), treatment C (information, videotaped testimonial, and demonstration/feedback of BSE), and treatment D (information, videotaped testimonial, demonstration/feedback of BSE, and discussion). Monthly reminders were mailed to half of the participants in each treatment condition. Participant BSE behavior, attitudes, general health behavior and stage of change (based on Prochaska and DiClemente's, 1983, transtheoretical model) were evaluated at pretreatment and 1-month, 2 1/2-months, and six-months post-treatment. Results indicated that the most complex interventions (B, C, D) were most effective in increasing BSE behavior at 1 and 2 1/2 months. Treatments C and D were also most effective at moving participants to the next stage of change. Participants in treatment C had the most improved attitudes toward BC and BSE and were most compliant with the BSE behavior at 2 1/2-months. Participants who received monthly reminders were more likely to conduct BSEs at all times than those who did not receive reminders. Implications for programs designed to increase BSE are discussed.