Assessing breast self-examination compliance in the natural environment

An indirect behavioral measure for measuring the frequency of breast self-examination (BSE) in the natural environment was developed and evaluated. BSE was performed using a lubricant (i.e., baby oil), and then a sheet of absorbant tissue was applied to the examined area. The tissue, which retained an oil stain, provided a trace measure of the exam. Results indicated that the measure remedied some of the weaknesses in verbal report, although for certain subjects it underestimated compliance.The intervention study served as partial fulfillment for the author's doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.