Computerized training in breast self-examination: a test in a community health center.
Fifty-eight women recruited from a community health center completed either a brief interactive multimedia training program on breast self-examination using a breast model and computer guided feedback on accuracy of lump detection or read a National Cancer Institute pamphlet on breast self-examination and breast lumps. Women using the computer program as compared to the pamphlet group reported a higher sense of self-efficacy for being able to perform a breast self-examination immediately after their educational session and 1 month later. However, the increase in self-efficacy for the computer group diminished over 4 weeks, underscoring the importance of an environment that reminds and reinforces learning for women about the performance of regular breast self-examination. The increase in sense of self-efficacy to perform breast self-examination with roughly 20 minutes of computer-based training and the partial maintenance of that self-efficacy 30 days later suggests the utility of incorporating short, focused interventions in busy primary healthcare settings.
Reis
Janet
J
Department of Community Health, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61821, USA. jsreis@uiuc.edu
Trockel
Mickey
M
King
Tyreasa
T
Remmert
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D016251:CD-ROM / Q000592:standards*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D019212:Multimedia; D010174:Pamphlets; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology