The effects of social demand on breast self-examination self-report.
The measurement of breast self-examination (BSE) adherence typically relies on verbal self-report. These studies systematically manipulated social demand within a face-to-face interview and examined the effects on self-reported BSE frequency. In Study 1, subjects (n = 37) received either a high-demand or a low-demand preface prior to being asked about BSE practice over the past year. Study 2 (n = 89) was a replication, with the addition of a no-preface (control) condition. Results from Study 1 indicated that although the conditions were comparable on demographic and breast cancer/BSE knowledge variables, the high-demand condition reported a significantly higher number of BSEs than the low-demand condition. An attenuation of this pattern was found in Study 2, with the control condition reporting a frequency between the low demand's and the high demand's reported frequencies. The implications for BSE intervention and prevalence research are discussed.
Beach
D L
DL
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, California 92182.
Mayer
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001940:Breast; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors