title: Assessment of self-reward strategies for maintenance of breast self-examination.
abstract: This study examined the relative impact of different self-reward strategies on maintenance of breast self-examination (BSE) practice among 1649 women trained to do BSE. Training groups were randomized into four conditions: (a) self-reward instructions and materials delivered at the end of the BSE training session; (b) self-reward suggestions delivered through the mail each month, contingent upon the BSE performance; (c) external monetary rewards and self-reward suggestions delivered through the mail each month on an intermittent schedule, contingent upon BSE practice; and (d) a no-reward control condition. Follow-up assessments 12 months following training revealed a pattern of evidence in support of the benefits of external monetary rewards and self-reward prompts on BSE frequency and quality; however, it is likely that the value of that condition lies in the external reward component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Worden
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mickey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Skelly
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Peluso
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012201:Reward