Adherence of community health agents (ACS) to a breast cancer screening program – ITABERAÍ project

Abstract

Objective: The ITABERAÍ Project is a study that deals with intervention through the training of community health agents
(ACS) based on evidence of tracking in physical examination of the breast. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
ACS adherence to a breast cancer screening program carried out in the city of Itaberaí. Methodology: This is a clinical,
controlled, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial, where the observation unit was the ACS in its Family Health Team
(ESF). Randomization was performed by a conglomerate, according to the geographic location of the ESF and the respective Basic Health Unit (UBS). The UBS were randomly drawn and allocated into the control group (CG) and intervention
group (IG). Information on the sociodemographic profile, life habits, and anamnesis was collected and analyzed. Results: A
total of 75 ACS participated in the study, where the mean age in the CG was 46.68±8.68 years, and in the IG, it was 49±9.33
years (p=0.27), and the time working as an ACS was 17.09±7.15 years in the CG and 16.38±8.02 years in the IG (p=0.69).
There was no significant difference in educational level between the groups (p=0.59). A total of 1,963 women were registered, 1,261 of which by the ACS in the CG and 742 in the IG (p=0.01). Conclusion: At the beginning of the study, there
was greater adherence by the ACS in the CG compared with the ACS in the IG. This may configure the need for greater
training of the ACS of the IG, both to perform the physical examination and in the aspect of how to approach the woman
for her inclusion in the study.