Câncer de colo do útero: qualidade de vida e resiliência em mulheres tratadas no Hospital Geral de Palmas - TO

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CC) constitutes serious public health problem worldwide, with 85% of mortality concentrated in developing countries. The disease manifests itself mainly from the age of 20 and the risk increases with age, reaching its peak between 50 and 60 years. It has greater potential for prevention and cure when discovered early. In Brazil, the northern region is the only one in which the rates of breast and cervical cancers are equivalent among women. Almost nine out of ten deaths from CC occur in less developed regions. After diagnosis and submission to different types of treatments, which may show adverse effects, the quality of life and sociodemographic, work, clinical and psychosocial profiles of women can reveal significant changes. The research aimed to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and resilience (RL) in women with CC treated at the Oncology Service of the Palmas General Hospital (HGP), as well as to associate these variables with cancer staging and type of treatment. This was a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional analytical study carried out in the public health network of the municipality of Palmas - Tocantins. The study included 37 women with CC, diagnosed by histopathological examination in 2020, treated and followed up in the HGP. Data collection took place by telephone contact. It was used, through the following instruments: Quality of Life Scale - Cervical Cancer (FACT-Cx), Resilience Scale (RE) and Sociocultural Questionnaire and Health Conditions. The tabulation and statistical analysis of the data were performed using the program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Descriptive analysis comprised frequency calculations for categorical variables and measures of central tendency and variability for quantitative variables. Spearman correlations were estimated between quantitative variables and associations between categorical variables (Fisher's Exact Test) with significance level of 5% was considered for the statistical tests. Among the 37 women participating in the study, the mean age was 47.7 years; 62.2% (n=23) were married; 54.1% (n=20) had a complete elementary study; 81.19% (n=30) were brown; 83.8% (n=31) had Squamous Cell Carcinoma; 43.2% (n=16) had stage III and 59.5% (n=22) underwent treatment with Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy. It was found that the HRQoL was satisfactory in 56.8% (n=21) of women with CC treated at the HGP and RL was higher degree for 51.4% (n=19) of them. The correlations between the overall score of HRQoL, its domains and RL were significant, high and positive. Fisher's exact test indicated significant associations of HRQoL and RL categories with cancer staging and treatment received. It was concluded that most women with CC exhibited satisfactory HRQoL and a high degree of RL. The strong and positive correlations showed that those with the highest degree of RL also had the best HRQoL. More advanced staging and treatment with chemotherapy concomitant with radiotherapy followed by brachytherapy were associated with unsatisfactory HRQoL and a lower degree of RL.