Determining Validity of Measuring the Quality of Breast Self-Examination

Abstract

A study was undertaken among college women to validate written self-report of breast self-examination (BSE) technique by comparing it to demonstrations given to a trained observer. Nineteen steps within the three BSE positions were used as the norm for a competent BSE performance. The written self-report survey of BSE skill performance was then validated by comparing ratings obtained through such a self-report mechanism to ratings by trained observers. Findings indicated that the written report of BSE competency.underestimated the quality of the actual demonstration. Results of this study have demonstrated that self-report is highly correlated with observed performance (r = .62) and that the form of this relationship is consistent across the various levels of demonstrated performance skills. These findings strongly suggest that the self-report can be used as a good surrogate measurefor actual performance, as long as comparisons are made to the range of the self-reported and not to the ideal score.