Breast self-examination and breast examination by a health care provider: prevalence and predictors of screening in a randomly selected sample of Australian women.

Professional organizations recommend the practice of monthly breast self-examination (BSE), and examination of the breasts by a health care provider every three years for women up to the age of 40 and annually thereafter. These practices were examined in a randomly selected sample of 1454 women. Only 39% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36%-42%) of the sample reported monthly BSE. Women were more likely to examine their breasts each month if they had found a breast lump, believed they were likely to get breast cancer, were not single, or were frequent users of general practitioners. Only 51% (95% CI, 45%-53%) of women under the age of 40 reported receiving three-yearly breast examinations; of those women aged 40 or more, 31% (CI, 27%-35%) of those with no additional risk factors and 35% (95% CI, 27%-42%) of those with at least one additional risk factor reported annual examinations. Women were more likely to have received a breast examination in the past three years if they had previously had a breast lump, were not single, had reached a higher educational level, were more frequent users of general practitioners, had private health insurance, or were described as other than ill or retired. There was a substantial association between BSE and breast examination by a health care provider with 25% (95% CI, 23%-27%) practising BSE and being screened by a health care provider. Thirty-five per cent (95% CI, 32%-38%) of women were not being screened by either method. The implications of the results for health education campaigns are discussed.