KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION IN EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER IN PATIENTS AT THE FIRST APPOINTMENT IN CANCER HOSPITAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Introduction: previous studies have suggested that early-stage cancer detection and timely treatment could reduce breast cancer death rates significantly in the long term. According to these finding, since 2004, mammograms are recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) for females with high risk of breast cancer beginning at age 35, and for those at standard risk biannual at age 50, added to the annual clinical breast exam. Aside from that, the majorit of breast cancer still been diagnosed at an advanced stage, showing the need for a better understanding of how research is translated into practice. Objective: to analyze the prevalence of the clinical breast exam (CBE) and mammography, according to the MoH. Method: retrospective cross-sectional study, ethically approved, enrroled 166 no probabilist sample of women in their first appointment, at breast cancer public hospital, in Rio de Janeiro city from July 2015 (representing 1/12 of month). Interviews were guide based on 23 questions from a validated instrument, addressing the early detection performed in the previous quadrennium. The descriptive analysis were performed using a statistical program. Results: most were 50-69 years old (52.1%), living with a partner (59.4%), non-white (59.3%), receiving 1-2 minimum wages per month (77.7%), dependent of public health service (74.9%), with a standard risk for breast cancer (85%). 53% had a family history of breast cancer investigated by health professional, and 15% of high risk cases were founded, been 12.8% in ovarian and 87.2% in breast. Respectively at public health service, for high and standard risks women, 32% and 34% underwent a CBE 15.2% had health literacy about this exam, reaching 41% of MoH compliance. Mamomgraphy were performed to 12% of them with high risk and 19.8 % of those with standard risk, 32.5% had health literacy about this exam, reaching 19.4% of MoH compliance. Conclusion: low prevalence of CBE, mammography, health literacy for the target audience, added with social vulnerability, indicated that the exams performed did not reach the population that could most benefit from the knowledge translation of breast cancer early detection. Further continuous health professional training and more health literacy is required to close this gap.