[Recommendations for cancer prevention]

[Early detection or screening in the prevention of prostate cancer?]

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignancy in men in the developed world and the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA, behind lung cancer. In Europe, it is the third leading cause of cancer death in men (after lung and colorectal cancers). The role of PC screening is currently being questioned. The following article summarises the most relevant epidemiological aspects of PC, as well as major clinical trials of PC screening, and recommendations of the various medical scientific associations on whether or not to screen for PC.

Effectiveness of three interventions in improving adherence to cervical cancer screening

In countries where cervical cancer screening programmes are conducted on an opportunistic basis, an active search for women at risk should be made to increase coverage. The objective of our study was to assess the effectiveness of three primary care interventions consisting of providing written, telephone and face-to-face information to increase screening participation among women over the age of 25 years. A randomized experimental study with only one post-test control group was conducted on women aged 25-70 years. A total of 1676 women were randomly distributed into four groups and the following interventions were implemented: written briefing; telephone briefing; an invitation to attend a group meeting and no briefing (control group). The women were evaluated 2 years after the intervention. The outcome variable was participation or nonparticipation in cervical cancer screening. It proved possible to interview a total of 1122 women. Among the groups, homogeneity was tested in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and health-related variables. Women who had undergone cytological testing in the 2 years preceding evaluation had a lower mean age (P<0.001) than women who had not done so (45.5±11.0 vs. 48.8±13.0 years). The proportion of women who had participated in screening was as follows: 35.3% in the written information group [95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8-40.9]; 38.4% in the telephone information group (95% CI 32.5-44.2); 29.3% in the face-to-face information group (95% CI 22.8-35.7) and 26.1% in the control group (95% CI 21.2-30.9), with this difference proving statistically significant (P=0.005). Logistic regression showed that only the interventions based on written or telephone briefing were effective vis-à-vis the control group. In conclusion, both written and telephone information can serve to improve women's participation in opportunistic cervical cancer screening. Current preventive strategies could be optimized by means of simple interventions within the scope of health professionals.

[Cervical cancer screening: Is active recruitment worth the effort?]

Objetivos

Conocer el porcentaje de mujeres que han realizado una citología en los últimos 5 años y el ámbito de realización. Detectar alteraciones citológicas precursoras de cáncer de cérvix en mujeres sin cribado o con cribados inadecuados y conocer la prevalencia de determinaciones de VPH positivas.

Diseño

Estudio descriptivo transversal.

Emplazamiento

Centro de Salud de Natahoyo, Gijón.

Participantes

Mujeres de 40 a 50 años residentes en la zona básica y adscritas al centro de salud.

Métodos

Recogida de información en bases de datos, telefónicamente y por encuestas en domicilios. Captación activa, en atención primaria, de mujeres sin cribado o con cribado inadecuado para realizar citología y determinación de VPH.

Resultados

De las 1.420 mujeres de 40 a 50 años 1.236 (87%) habían realizado una citología en los últimos 5 años y 184 (13%) nunca habían hecho una citología o llevaban más de 5 años sin hacerla. De las 184 mujeres sin cribado o con cribados inadecuados 108 (el 58,7%) accedieron a realizar citología y determinación de VPH. En las citologías realizadas no se diagnosticó ninguna displasia de alto grado. El 8,3% de las determinaciones de VPH fueron positivas.

Conclusiones

En nuestra población existe una alta cobertura del cribado oportunista de cáncer de cérvix. La captación activa de mujeres que se encontraban fuera del programa de cribado no resultó rentable.