ASSESSMENT OF SELF-REWARD STRATEGIES FOR MAINTENANCE OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION

This study examined the relative impact of different self-reward strat egies on maintenance of breast self-examination (BSE) practice among 1 649 women trained to do BSE. Training groups were randomized into four conditions: (a) self-reward instructions and materials delivered at t he end of the BSE training session; (b) self-reward suggestions delive red through the mail each month, contingent upon the BSE performance; (c) external monetary rewards and self-reward suggestions delivered th rough the mail each month on an intermittent schedule, contingent upon BSE practice; and (d) a no-reward control condition. Follow-Lip asses sments 12 months following training revealed a pattern of evidence in support of the benefits of external monetary rewards and self-reward p rompts on BSE frequency and quality; however it is likely that the val ue of that condition lies in the external reward component.