Primary care nurses' role in the control of breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To analyze actions performed by primary care nurses for opportunistic breast cancer screening based on the parameter proposed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 70 nurses. We used a validated questionnaire elaborated according to actions determined by the Brazilian program for control of breast cancer. Results: 97.1% of nurses referred patients for clinical breast exam, 88.6% indicated mammography annually and 75.7% guided patients to perform the first mammography exam starting at age 40 years, and 52.9% promoted educational meetings. However, guidance on age range and time interval for mammography and clinical breast exam, as well as an active search for women who did not show up, was not in agreement with parameters established by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Conclusion: Nurses have conducted actions for the control of breast cancer, but some nonconformities exist between executed actions and actions proposed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health for cancer screening.