Edinburgh breast education campaign on breast cancer and breast self-examination: was it worth while?. Issue 4 (December 1986)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roberts, M M; Robinson, S E; French, K; Proudfoot, A; Talbot, H; Elton, R A
• Is Part Of: Journal of epidemiology and community health. Volume 40:Issue 4(1986)
• Page Start: 338
• Page End: 343
• Publication Date: 1986-12
• Subjects: Public health -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.40.4.338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-005X

Abstract

Abstract : A health education campaign was carried out at the start of a large trial of screening for breast cancer in Edinburgh. After preliminary studies the campaign concentrated on talks to small groups of women by specially trained health visitors. Over a year, 12, 000 women attended. Systematic evaluation after 12 months showed that selected women who heard the talks were more knowledgeable about breast cancer, and a random sample of women in Edinburgh had a small but significant improvement in knowledge compared with women in Aberdeen. However, the random sample did not report an increase in the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) and there was no increase in workload for general practitioners. It is suggested that BSE is more likely to be accepted if combined with a physical examination.