Breast self-examination for visually impaired women.

Regularly practiced breast self-examination (BSE) has been demonstrated to be an effective method in the early detection of breast abnormalities. Women are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of BSE as a means of self-health care and are seeking instruction on how to perform such examinations properly. Unfortunately, not all women have equal access to BSE instruction. This project addresses the need for BSE instruction specifically tailored to meet the needs of visually impaired women. A review of existing sources revealed that no formal methods of BSE instruction are being used to meet the needs of this population. The participants in this study included 20 women between the ages of 30 and 75 years, all of whom are partially sighted or legally blind. The women participate in life skills classes on a regular basis at a county association for the blind. The authors conducted an instructional seminar demonstrating BSE and used methods which focus on the senses of touch and hearing. According to the authors, the instructional seminar can result in an increased self-awareness of the importance of BSE and help to meet the unique needs of the visually impaired women.