INTRODUCTION: The VSMMC Breast Center actively promotes the practice of monthly breast self-examination and annual clinical breast examination to aid in the early detection of breast cancer. The object of this study was to determine the performance outcome (proportion of participants who passed) on the technical aspect of the proficiency in clinical breast examination (ProCBE) module at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

METHODS: The study is a retrospective analytical review designed to evaluate the proficiency in clinical breast examination program (ProCBE) done at VSMMC Breast Center. The participants' skills on the technical aspect (Position, perimeter/pattern and palpation/ pressure) were evaluated through a return demonstration. Testing the difference between proportion using z-test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two participants were included in the ProCBE class which included medical doctors, medical interns, and registered nurses. In the positioning station, 87.3%, 86.4%, and 80.4% of doctors, interns, and nurses passed. In the primeter/ pattern station, 97.5%, 90.9% and 66.7% of doctors, interns and nurses passed. In the palpation/pressure station, 54.4%, 50.0% and 66.7% of doctors, interns, and nurses passed the module.

CONCLUSION: Overall, 43.0%, 27.3% and 29.4% of doctors, interns, and nurses passed the technical aspect of the proficiency in clinical breast examination module, respectively.

Human ; Breast Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the factors causing a delay in the definitive treatment of histologically-confirmed breast cancer patients seen at the Breast Center of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC). It is also aimed to describe the dissimilarity of patients who were treated early and those patients whose treatment were delayed beyond 1 month, in terms of demographic, economic, clinical factors and cultural factors.

METHODS: A survey of all histologically- confirmed breast cancer female patients seen at the Breast Cancer of VSMMC from December 2008 to May 2009 were evaluated in terms of demographic, economic, clinical and cultural factors. Statistical analysis using t-test and chi-square were used to determine factors associated with delayed treatment.

RESULTS: The mean age all patients was 50.73 = 1.34. The mean age (54.5 = 2.15) of patients under early treatment group was significantly older compared to the mean age (48.9 = 1.64) of patients in the delayed treatment group (t-test), P-value < 0.05. Significant proportions of married respondents (31/45 = 68.9%) belonged to the delayed treatment group. Fifty-five percent of patients belonged to the delayed treatment group had locally advanced breast cancer, 50 percent were in Stage 3B and 5.3 percent were in stage 3C.

CONCLUSION: In this study, 68 percent of the participants who had been diagnosed to have histopathologically- confirmed breast cancer had delayed consultation. Being married, living within the metropolitan area, educational attainment are significant factors that delayed treatment as well as the fear of treatment and consultation to traditional healers.

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