Clinical breast examination of asymptomatic women - attitudes and clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Well woman health checks are offered in general practice and may include breast examination.


METHODS
The authors explored the attitudes of general practitioners toward clinical breast examination as a screening test in asymptomatic women. Twenty-seven GPs were interviewed about their current practice and opinions of the value, advantages and disadvantages of breast examination. The interview data was analysed qualitatively.


RESULTS
Most GPs performed clinical breast examinations and had no wish to change their practice. The GPs had different opinions about the value of breast examination, few of which were evidence based.


CONCLUSIONS
It is difficult to change doctors' practice based on evidence alone when the practitioner has personal opinions concerning the value of a procedure. However, women need to be fully informed of the efficacy of clinical breast examination if such examinations are to be performed.
Thistlethwaite
Jill
J
Centre for Innovation in Professional Health Education and Research, University of Sydney, New South Wales. jthistle@med.usyd.edu.au
Stewart
Rebecca
R
Evans
Rebecca
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology