Utilización correcta de las técnicas de detección de cáncer de mama en mujeres mexicanas

Development and Validation of a Mexican Version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Cancer Screening

Although the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for breast cancer screening has been adapted and validated in different populations worldwide, a Spanish version for the Latin American population is still not available. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for mammograms for use with Mexican women and determine the sociodemographic, clinical, and health belief model variables which influence undergoing a mammogram. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed. Participants included 612 women aged 40 years and above who attended a public tertiary hospital. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, from which six factors with adequate loadings were obtained. In addition, Cronbach's alpha was used to obtain a reliability coefficient of 0.68-0.94. To obtain criterion validity, a binary logistic regression analysis was conducted, with the mammogram being the dependent variable and sociodemographic, clinical, and health belief model dimensions being the predictors; perceived benefits was the variable that most influenced the obtaining of mammography. This Spanish version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for breast cancer screening for Mexican women was found to be valid and reliable, which means it could be a useful tool in identifying beliefs surrounding breast cancer screening.

Adaptation and Validation of the Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Self-Examination in Mexican Women

OBJECTIVES

In Mexico, breast cancer is often not detected until it is already at an advanced stage. Many women know about breast self-examination (BSE), but few do it correctly. BSE can assist in the early detection of breast cancer, and a valid and reliable instrument to help determine the factors of the Health Belief Model that affect the practice of BSE in Mexican women would thus be advantageous. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Health Belief Model Scale (HBMS) for BSE and identifies the factors that influence its practice.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used; 738 Mexican women aged 20 years and older who attended a tertiary public hospital were evaluated. The HBMS of Champion was translated into Spanish. Focus groups of women were consulted, and experts' judgments were gathered to determine content validity.

RESULTS

In the exploratory factor analysis, a structure of 6 factors was obtained, and Cronbach's alpha scales ranged between 0.65 and 0.84. BSE practice was associated with age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.07), self-efficacy (OR 1.16; CI 1.12-1.20), barriers (OR 0.953; CI 0.912-0.996), and health motivation (OR 0.907; CI 0.837-0.983).

CONCLUSION

The Spanish version of the HBMS is an adequate, valid, and reliable instrument for the Mexican population that allows us to evaluate their beliefs about breast cancer and BSE, and it should also be applicable to other Spanish-speaking people. Perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and health motivation in particular should be considered in the development of health promotion programs for Mexican women.

Risk factors of breast cancer and knowledge about the disease: an integrative revision of Latin American studies

The aim of this integrative review was to compare Latin American literature about risk and knowledge on breast cancer. Of 47 studies selected, 20 were about knowledge or awareness and 27 about risk of breast cancer. English was the dominant language in studies about risk, whereas studies about knowledge were mainly written in Spanish or Portuguese. Studies about knowledge were all cross- sectional, whereas case- control studies dominated authors' interest about risk of breast cancer. Studies about knowledge were mainly focused on early detection of the disease and the most common study objective was breast self- examination (N = 14). In contrast, few studies about risk of breast cancer focused on early detection (N = 5). Obesity and overweight (N = 14), family history (N = 13), decreased parity (N = 12), and short breastfeeding duration (N = 10) were among the most frequent identified risk factors. Socio- economic factors such as income and educational level had variable effects on breast cancer risk and affected also knowledge of women about risk factors and early detection. Present results indicated that studies about risk of breast cancer were more often based on a better sound analytical background, compared to studies about knowledge, which were mostly descriptive.

[Opportunistic screening actions for breast cancer performed by nurses working in primary health care]

OBJECTIVE

To identify opportunistic screening actions for breast cancer performed by nurses working in primary health care units in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study with 60 nurses from 28 units, who had been working for at least one year in the public municipal health care network. Data were collected between December 2013 and March 2014, by means of a questionnaire, using descriptive analysis and the software IBM SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2010.

RESULTS

The results showed that 71.7% of the participants questioned their female patients as for risk factors for breast cancer, mainly during nursing consultation; 70.0% oriented users about the age to perform clinical breast exam, whereas 30.0% did not due to lack of knowledge and time; 60.0% explained about the age to perform mammogram; 73.3% did not refer patients with suspicious breast exam results to the referral department, citing scheduling as the main obstacle to referral. Educational activities were not performed by 78.3% of participants.

CONCLUSION

Investment is needed in professional training and management of breast cancer screening.

Progress and remaining challenges for cancer control in Latin America and the Caribbean

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and an increasing threat in low-income and middle-income countries. Our findings in the 2013 Commission in The Lancet Oncology showed several discrepancies between the cancer landscape in Latin America and more developed countries. We reported that funding for health care was a small percentage of national gross domestic product and the percentage of health-care funds diverted to cancer care was even lower. Funds, insurance coverage, doctors, health-care workers, resources, and equipment were also very inequitably distributed between and within countries. We reported that a scarcity of cancer registries hampered the design of credible cancer plans, including initiatives for primary prevention. When we were commissioned by The Lancet Oncology to write an update to our report, we were sceptical that we would uncover much change. To our surprise and gratification much progress has been made in this short time. We are pleased to highlight structural reforms in health-care systems, new programmes for disenfranchised populations, expansion of cancer registries and cancer plans, and implementation of policies to improve primary cancer prevention.