Breast Self-Exams
In any profession, research plays an integral role in the collection of data that contribute to the overall knowledge that guides the profession. Of all disciplines, the field of health relies heavily on research in order to keep up with changes in disease detection mechanisms and efficiency of new treatment regimens. Studies in this field need to keep up with validity and transferability requirements for the results of the studies to be authentic and applicable. Any good research conducted has its strengths and weaknesses. This paper is a critical evaluation of a study that was conducted on the effect of breast self-exams on curbing breast cancer mortality.
Strengths of the Study
The fact that the study was conducted by qualified medical doctors authenticated the process of the study since the researchers had good knowledge of breast cancer. The study was also conducted in two separate countries, which widened the scope of the study thereby increasing the applicability in terms of geography.
The results of the study were consistent with the findings of other studies of the same nature on the effectiveness of breast self-examination in detecting and curbing breast cancer. According to a report compiled by Nancy Baxter in Canada, there was no evidence of significant benefit of breast self-exam on breast cancer cases in women of various age groups (2001). The study also found that there was considerable physical and psychological harm associated with breast self-exams. A different study by Hackshaw and Paul also found no significant difference in the number of breast cancer deaths between women who had been taught how to perform breast self-exams and those who did not perform the exams (2003).
Another strong poi...
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... (2003). Breast self-examination and death from breast cancer: A meta-analysis. British Journal of Cancer, 88(7), 1047–1053.
Baxter, N. (2001). Preventive health care, 2001 update: Should women be routinely taught breast self-examination to screen for breast cancer? CMAJ, 164(13), 1837-1846.
Brannon, L. & Feist, J. (2009). Health psychology: An introduction to behavior and health. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
References
Hackshaw, K. & Paul, E. A. (2003). Breast self-examination and death from breast cancer: A meta-analysis. British Journal of Cancer, 88(7), 1047–1053.
Baxter, N. (2001). Preventive health care, 2001 update: Should women be routinely taught breast self-examination to screen for breast cancer? CMAJ, 164(13), 1837-1846.
Brannon, L. & Feist, J. (2009). Health psychology: An introduction to behavior and health. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
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Johnston, J. E. (2009). The Complete Idiots Guide to Psychology (4th ed.). Indianapolis, Indiana: Alpha Books.
Today in the United States, Breast Cancer occurs in about one in eight women which is currently the most common cancer among women. The number of cases is expected to decrease due to the advancements in technology and dedicated researchers. Scientists have put an estimated 4.8 billion dollars towards the research every year to help find a cure or a new treatment for breast cancer ("STAT Facts Breast Cancer"). Researchers have found causes, put in research and theories that help with understanding treatments, prevention and also common symptoms and coping mechanisms.
Breast Cancer is defined as “a group of solid tumor malignancies arising in the tissues of the breast” (Sarah Crawford, Richard Alder, 2013) in human and other mammals. It can happen to both men and women. For women, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death. According to National Cancer Institute, in the United States, the 2014 estimated new cases and deaths of female from breast cancer are 232,670 and 40,000, respectively. For male, it’s 430 deaths out of 2,360 new cases. From these numbers, we can see that women in the U.S. are greatly affected by breast cancer, thus, it’s not difficult to imagine the impact on a worldwide level. Although these numbers look frightening, people can actually survive from breast cancer if it is detected early and treated properly, so it is extremely important for all of us, especially women, to have a better understanding of breast cancer.
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(2004) Psychology (2nd European edition). Essex: Pearson Education Limited Gross, R (1996).Psychology, The Science of mind and behaviour (3rd Ed). London: Hodder & Stoughton
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