Abstract
Interview data from 434 women (aged ≥ 20 years) in two Wellington suburban areas were used to estimate the prevalence and quality of performance of breast self-examination. Although 98% of women were familiar with breast self-examination, and 73% had performed it at least once, only 39% did so at least monthly. Its practice was significantly more common in the middle years (30-59), among Europeans, and in women with tertiary education. Thoroughness or quality of performance was assessed by comparison with Cancer Society recommendations. Scores for examination technique were generally high (mean = 73%) compared with those assessing timing (mean = 47.5%) and conditions under which breast self-examination was performed (mean = 43.3%). Results from this study were compared with 1975-76 New Zealand survey data which produced lower estimates of the prevalence of monthly breast self-examination. Both studies found that more than a quarter of women have never practiced it. Future research and intervention efforts should be directed toward this group of women.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 156-159 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | New Zealand Medical Journal |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue number | 797 |
| State | Published - 1986 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Breast self-examination in an urban population : Estimates of prevalence and quality of performance. / Joseph, Jill G; Simpson, J. S.; MacDonald, C. E.; Unsworth, C. L.; Carpenter, L. M.
In: New Zealand Medical Journal, Vol. 99, No. 797, 1986, p. 156-159.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Breast self-examination in an urban population
T2 - Estimates of prevalence and quality of performance
AU - Joseph, Jill G
AU - Simpson, J. S.
AU - MacDonald, C. E.
AU - Unsworth, C. L.
AU - Carpenter, L. M.
PY - 1986
Y1 - 1986
N2 - Interview data from 434 women (aged ≥ 20 years) in two Wellington suburban areas were used to estimate the prevalence and quality of performance of breast self-examination. Although 98% of women were familiar with breast self-examination, and 73% had performed it at least once, only 39% did so at least monthly. Its practice was significantly more common in the middle years (30-59), among Europeans, and in women with tertiary education. Thoroughness or quality of performance was assessed by comparison with Cancer Society recommendations. Scores for examination technique were generally high (mean = 73%) compared with those assessing timing (mean = 47.5%) and conditions under which breast self-examination was performed (mean = 43.3%). Results from this study were compared with 1975-76 New Zealand survey data which produced lower estimates of the prevalence of monthly breast self-examination. Both studies found that more than a quarter of women have never practiced it. Future research and intervention efforts should be directed toward this group of women.
AB - Interview data from 434 women (aged ≥ 20 years) in two Wellington suburban areas were used to estimate the prevalence and quality of performance of breast self-examination. Although 98% of women were familiar with breast self-examination, and 73% had performed it at least once, only 39% did so at least monthly. Its practice was significantly more common in the middle years (30-59), among Europeans, and in women with tertiary education. Thoroughness or quality of performance was assessed by comparison with Cancer Society recommendations. Scores for examination technique were generally high (mean = 73%) compared with those assessing timing (mean = 47.5%) and conditions under which breast self-examination was performed (mean = 43.3%). Results from this study were compared with 1975-76 New Zealand survey data which produced lower estimates of the prevalence of monthly breast self-examination. Both studies found that more than a quarter of women have never practiced it. Future research and intervention efforts should be directed toward this group of women.
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M3 - Article
VL - 99
SP - 156
EP - 159
JO - New Zealand Medical Journal
JF - New Zealand Medical Journal
SN - 0028-8446
IS - 797
ER -