title: Development of a competency-based curriculum for training women in breast self-examination skills.
abstract: It is expected that there will be 178,700 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in American women during 1998. This corresponds to a new breast cancer diagnosis every 3 minutes. In the absence of any preventive measures at this time, control of breast cancer morbidity and mortality must be sought through early detection and treatment. A competency-based training curriculum in breast self-examination was developed that incorporated three specific skill components: a systematic pattern of search; palpation topography discrimination training; and use of appropriate finger pressure for examination. A computer-assisted breast model was built and piloted for use in this study. The design, implementation, and validation of this program as a platform to train women and advanced practice nurses in breast self-examination is described.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University School of Nursing, Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Leight
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Leslie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000451:nursing; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development