Background The incidence of breast cancer in Hong Kong is increasing and breast serf-examination (BSE)as a screening tool is becoming mere popular,especially among first-dsgree relatives (FDR) of breast cancer victims. BSE may be mere applicable to Chinese women as their breast size is smaller. This study explores the BSE practice in this group of women.Methods A cross sectional study was conducted by sending questionnaires to 330 FDR of breast cancer patients treated in the Department of Surgeory,Univeisity of Hong Kong. BSE behavior was studied with respect to its frequency,awareness,completeness and confidence of practice.Results 110 subjects returned the questionnaires with a response rate of 33%.The mean age of the respondent was 37 years. Only 57 women (52%)were practicers. The practicers have a stronger BSE awareness (p＜0.01) and a lower mean score on thought barriers (P=0.002) than the non-practicers.40% of the practicers gain their BSE knowledge through clinicians and their mean period of practica was 3.2 yeara. 68% of the practicers performed BSE completely.The overall confidence rate was 35%, but the rate was 43% among those who performled complete BSE.Thirteen factors possibly related to the completeness and rate of confidence of BSF examination were studied.The only factor that significantly deternined completenass was the time spent for each examination (P=0.002).The complete practicers required a longer time than the incomplete practicers(6.60 and 2.96 min,respectively).Women with a stronger BSE intention (P=0.001)and a lower mean score on thought barrers(P=0.001)performed the examination confidently.Conclusions Slightly over half of the FDR practice BSE.The majority perform a complete BSE but they are not confident in finding abnormalities. Women spending more time on BSE are associated with a higher rate of completeness. However,only those with a stronger DSE: intention and lesser thought barriers are more confident in their practice.