Table 4: Effect of breast self-examination techniques on the risk of death from breast cancer / CMAJ

Effect of breast self-examination techniques on the risk of death from breast cancer

Table 4: BSE practice characteristics relative to year of diagnosis of breast cancer

Characteristic No. of yr preceding diagnosis; OR (and 95% CI)

1* 2† 3‡

According to self-administered questionnaire

Practised BSE 1.00 1.00 1.00

Did not practise BSE 1.22 (0.65–2.29) 1.25 (0.62–2.51) 1.13 (0.49–2.61)

Frequency per yr

>= 12 1.00 1.00 1.00

1–11 0.81 (0.55–1.20) 1.20 (0.79–1.84) 1.10 (0.67–1.83)

0 1.13 (0.59–2.15) 1.34 (0.65–2.77) 1.17 (0.50–2.76)

According to screen-examiner assessment

No visual examination 1.24 (0.73–2.09) 1.54 (0.87–2.73) 1.33 (0.69–2.56)

3 middle fingers not used 1.22 (0.74–2.01) 1.78 (1.01–3.14) 1.39 (0.69–2.78)

Finger pads not used 1.47 (0.84–2.57) 2.08 (1.11–3.88) 0.87 (0.42–1.78)

Systematic search not used 0.92 (0.48–1.78) 0.59 (0.27–1.28) 1.18 (0.52–2.65)

Circular palpation not used 0.50 (0.30–0.86) 0.67 (0.36–1.24) 0.83 (0.43–1.60)

Most of breast not covered 1.17 (0.67–2.04) 0.91 (0.48–1.70) 0.83 (0.38–1.82)

Axillae not examined 1.01 (0.59–1.71) 1.12 (0.63–1.97) 0.80 (0.41–1.57)

< 12 examinations performed per yr 1.11 (0.72–1.70) 1.28 (0.79–2.07) 1.18 (0.68–2.03)

All of first 3 practices included 1.00 1.00 1.00

1, 2 or 3 of first 3 practices omitted 1.51 (0.97–2.34) 2.20 (1.30–3.71) 1.18 (0.66–2.10)

1 of first 3 practices omitted 1.52 (0.93–2.48) 1.82 (1.00–3.29) 1.21 (0.65–2.28)

2 of first 3 practices omitted 1.53 (0.83–2.84) 2.84 (1.44–5.59) 0.92 (0.38–2.22)

All of first 3 practices omitted 1.40 (0.58–3.39) 2.95 (1.19–7.30) 1.68 (0.59–4.76)

*A total of 193 case subjects and 1669 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 142 case subjects and 1215 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners.
†A total of 144 case subjects and 1232 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 105 case subjects and 907 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners.
‡A total of 100 case subjects and 857 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 75 case subjects and 622 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners.

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| CMAJ November 1, 1997 (vol 157, no 9) / JAMC le 1er novembre 1997 (vol 157, no 9) |

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Table 4: BSE practice characteristics relative to year of diagnosis of breast cancer
Characteristic	No. of yr preceding diagnosis; OR (and 95% CI)
Characteristic	1*	2†	3‡
According to self-administered questionnaire
Practised BSE	1.00	1.00	1.00
Did not practise BSE	1.22 (0.65–2.29)	1.25 (0.62–2.51)	1.13 (0.49–2.61)
Frequency per yr
>= 12	1.00	1.00	1.00
1–11	0.81 (0.55–1.20)	1.20 (0.79–1.84)	1.10 (0.67–1.83)
0	1.13 (0.59–2.15)	1.34 (0.65–2.77)	1.17 (0.50–2.76)
According to screen-examiner assessment
No visual examination	1.24 (0.73–2.09)	1.54 (0.87–2.73)	1.33 (0.69–2.56)
3 middle fingers not used	1.22 (0.74–2.01)	1.78 (1.01–3.14)	1.39 (0.69–2.78)
Finger pads not used	1.47 (0.84–2.57)	2.08 (1.11–3.88)	0.87 (0.42–1.78)
Systematic search not used	0.92 (0.48–1.78)	0.59 (0.27–1.28)	1.18 (0.52–2.65)
Circular palpation not used	0.50 (0.30–0.86)	0.67 (0.36–1.24)	0.83 (0.43–1.60)
Most of breast not covered	1.17 (0.67–2.04)	0.91 (0.48–1.70)	0.83 (0.38–1.82)
Axillae not examined	1.01 (0.59–1.71)	1.12 (0.63–1.97)	0.80 (0.41–1.57)
< 12 examinations performed per yr	1.11 (0.72–1.70)	1.28 (0.79–2.07)	1.18 (0.68–2.03)
All of first 3 practices included	1.00	1.00	1.00
1, 2 or 3 of first 3 practices omitted	1.51 (0.97–2.34)	2.20 (1.30–3.71)	1.18 (0.66–2.10)
1 of first 3 practices omitted	1.52 (0.93–2.48)	1.82 (1.00–3.29)	1.21 (0.65–2.28)
2 of first 3 practices omitted	1.53 (0.83–2.84)	2.84 (1.44–5.59)	0.92 (0.38–2.22)
All of first 3 practices omitted	1.40 (0.58–3.39)	2.95 (1.19–7.30)	1.68 (0.59–4.76)
*A total of 193 case subjects and 1669 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 142 case subjects and 1215 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners. †A total of 144 case subjects and 1232 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 105 case subjects and 907 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners. ‡A total of 100 case subjects and 857 control subjects who completed self-administered questionnaires and 75 case subjects and 622 control subjects assessed by screen-examiners.