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 absorbent 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.