title: Effect of clinical breast examination training on practitioner's perceived competence.
abstract: Effective clinical breast exam (CBE) training should not only improve screening technique but also reduce barriers to performing CBE by increasing perceived competence and self-efficacy. Using the vertical strip technique with silicone breast models and live patients, 4-day CBE training sessions were provided to 34 nurse-practitioners. Trainees perceived a significant decrease in the size of breast lesion they could detect after training (P < 0.0001). The size of the detectable lesion reported prior to training was correlated with the years of CBE experience (P < 0.05); however, the size of the detectable lesion after training was not significantly related to previous CBE experience. Trainees with less CBE experience prior to training reported greater improvement in the ability to detect smaller lesions (P < 0.05). Results indicate a significant CBE training effect on perceived competence, and suggest that nurse practitioners from all levels of experience can benefit significantly from CBE training. O 2002 International Society for Preventive Oncology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Prevention Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, USA. iannottr@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lannotti
authors.forename: Lila J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.forename: Alice Anne
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: De Leon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination; D012016:Reference Values