Métodos de rastreamento do câncer de mama : conhecimento, atitude e prática de mulheres idosas

Abstract

Introduction: The demographic alterations which the population undergoes had as consequence a noteworthy number of cases of noncommunicable chronic diseases, among them cancer and, in elderly women, breast cancer is highlighted. Objective: To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of breast cancer screening methods among elderly women in the municipality of João Pessoa PB. Method: Home survey of evaluative type: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice , cross-sectional and quantitative study carried out with 322 elderly women aged 60 or above, registered in the Family Health Units (USF) of João Pessoa. Data were collected from July 2013 to February 2014, by using the structured interview questionnaire. For analyzing the results, the variables were described as absolute and relative frequencies. In order to evaluate the association among the variables, Pearson´s chi-squared test or Fisher´s exact test were used, being established the significance level of 5% (p£0,05). The analyses were fulfilled by means of the statistical program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21.0. The research project met the criteria established in the Resolution nº. 466/2012, that rules the research involving human subjects, being approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Statement n° 290.083; CAAE 12147813.0.0000.5336. Results: Most of the elderly women present appropriate knowledge, attitude and practice concerning breast selfexamination (BSE), appropriate attitude for the clinical examination and appropriate knowledge and attitude for the mammography. There was no meaningful association among the socio-demographic data and the adequacy of knowledge, attitude and practice for both the breast self-examination and the clinical examination. For the mammography, meaningful association in regard to knowledge was observed in the following variables: age group (p=0,036) and education level (p=0,022); attitude, in education level (p<0,001) and with practice, in the age group (p=0,0023) and education level (p=0,004). With reference to the association among the knowledge and attitude variables with the practice of the breast selfexamination, the study revealed significance for the attitude observing that most of the elderly women who have appropriate attitude also have appropriate practice for the mentioned examination. In relation to the association among the knowledge and attitude variables with the practice of the clinical breast examination and the mammography, there was no significance. Conclusions: Taking into account the results, it is perceived the need for educational actions in health, theoretical and practical, related mainly to the strengthening of knowledge and practice adequacy of the breast cancer tracking methods in elderly women by highlighting the clinical breast examination and the mammography. It is still necessary that the health teams of the Family Health Units enhance the active search of elderly women for the disease screening as well as the awareness of the competent organizations so as to include in the national program of control and combat of breast cancer the elderly women aged from 70, once it is a serious problem of public health that causes great suffering for the women in all phases of life and, especially, in such a sublime phase as the old age.