Education and Health in Women With Cervical Cancer

Overview

Introduction: Cervical neoplasms constitute a significant public health problem on a global scale. According to the National Cancer Institute, this pathology is the third most prevalent type of cancer among women in Brazil, and the second most incident neoplasm in the North and Northeast regions. Estimates for each year of the 2023-2025 triennium point to approximately 17,010 new cases, with a gross incidence rate of 15.38 cases per 100,000 women. Health education emerges as a fundamental strategy in promoting healthy behaviors and building critical awareness of the health-disease process, considering individual and collective particularities. Objective: To evaluate the effect of health education on the level of quality of life, physical activity, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, nutrition, and pain in women with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with cervical cancer patients. The sample will be randomly distributed into two groups: the Health Education Recommendations Group (HERG) and the Control Group (CG), which will remain under usual care. The intervention will last 12 weeks, during which the HERG will receive health education recommendations through face-to-face meetings and via social media. The variables in this study are the participants' sociodemographic and clinical profile, lifestyle, sedentary behavior, level of physical activity, nutrition, self-esteem, anxiety and depression, quality of life, and pain. The variables of interest will be evaluated at baseline, after 6 and 12 weeks through multivariate analysis, comparing the effects of group, time, and interaction of both. Analyses will be performed using SPSS version 24.0 software, with a significance level of 5%. Expected results: Lifestyle change in at least two addressed areas. The developed material contributes to the scientific literature through the creation of textbooks, articles, and by offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of health education strategies. Future research can expand this work, adapting it to other populations or contexts to maximize its impact.

Cervical neoplasms represent a significant public health problem on a global scale. In Brazil, they constitute the third most frequent type of cancer among women of reproductive age. This condition is caused by cellular alterations, mainly triggered by persistent infection with oncogenic subtypes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer, also called cervical cancer, results from continuous infection with oncogenic types of HPV. Although genital infection with these viruses is common and, in most cases, does not result in disease, some situations evolve into cellular changes that can progress to cancer. Two main types of invasive carcinomas are identified, according to the origin of the affected epithelium: squamous cell carcinoma, the most prevalent, which affects the squamous epithelium and represents approximately 90% of cases, and adenocarcinoma, less frequent, which affects the glandular epithelium and corresponds to about 10% of cases. Both are associated with persistent infection by oncogenic variants of HPV.Primary prevention of cervical cancer includes the use of condoms and HPV vaccination, complemented by health promotion actions. Secondary prevention, in turn, includes early detection through preventive examination (Papanicolaou or cytopathological), indicated for women between 25 and 64 years of age, especially those who have already started their sexual life.The Pap smear allows for the early detection of abnormal cells, enabling interventions that prevent progression to advanced forms of the disease. Thus, early identification is essential to improve the quality of life of patients. Several factors contribute to the development of cervical cancer, with HPV being the main one, especially subtypes 16 and 18, responsible for approximately 70% of cases. Other risk factors include smoking, multiple unprotected sexual partners, early onset of sexual activity, multiparity, prolonged use of oral contraceptives, history of STIs, and micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folate. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommends the implementation of national programs that include integrated actions for primary prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care, measures that have been adopted in most Latin American countries since the 1980s. However, issues related to access to and quality of health services, as well as the socioeconomic level of women, hinder the control of the disease in the region. In addition, a lack of knowledge about cervical health is a significant barrier to early diagnosis. Therefore, awareness campaigns specifically for women are essential. Health education is an essential tool in promoting healthy behaviors and building a critical awareness of the health-disease process, considering individual and collective realities. By disseminating qualified information, the aim is not only to clarify the determinants of health, but also to provide support for the adoption of preventive practices. Health promotion encompasses multiple levels of intervention, from individual care and community work to strategic actions aimed at public policies. Educational interventions addressing HPV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are fundamental for the prevention of cervical cancer and should consider sociocultural and economic aspects to reduce barriers related to early diagnosis. The use of new technologies, such as mHealth strategies, has shown promise in increasing adherence to preventive practices. These interventions, especially for chronic diseases such as cervical cancer, facilitate screening, monitoring, and dissemination of information in an economical and efficient way. In addition, social media has the potential to influence behaviors by promoting discussions, disseminating information rapidly, and reaching a wide audience at low cost. Therefore, the combined use of health education and digital technologies can significantly contribute to the prevention and control of cervical cancer. Furthermore, social media has the potential to influence behaviors by promoting discussions, disseminating information rapidly, and reaching a wide audience at low cost. Therefore, the combined use of health education and digital technologies can significantly contribute to the prevention and control of cervical cancer. From this perspective, it emphasizes the need for intervention programs with health education for cervical cancer patients, considering the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in Brazil, especially in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, as no similar study was found in the region.