Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions and Knowledge of the USPSTF Guidelines on Breast Self-Examination.
OBJECTIVE
In 2009, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published revised guidelines for breast cancer screening, which recommended against teaching breast self-examination (BSE). The objective of this study was to assess providers' perceptions and knowledge regarding these updated guidelines.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey study was administered to 205 attending and resident physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and registered nurses working in five medical and gynecological practices affiliated with a large academic teaching hospital in western Massachusetts. The survey solicited demographic data and inquired about practitioners' perceptions and knowledge of the revised guidelines.


RESULTS
Fewer than half (41.1%) of respondents correctly identified the new USPSTF guidelines for BSE. Among those who stated they were aware of guidelines, only 37.1% adhered to them. Overall, 70% report that they teach patients to perform BSE. Teaching BSE was associated with female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-6.29), a belief that BSE reduces morbidity and mortality (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.08-7.81), and internal medicine residency (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06-0.59).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the 2009 USPSTF guidelines is suboptimal and greater efforts should be made to educate healthcare professionals about them.
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Kah Poh
KP
Loh
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Mihaela S
MS
Stefan
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Jennifer
J
Friderici
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Eng Keong
EK
Tan
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Owolabi
O
Ogunneye
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Reva
R
Kleppel
From the Departments of Internal Medicine, Academic Affairs, and Hematology/Oncology, Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, and the Department of Nephrology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
James A
JA
Stewart
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology