Asunto(s)
Serodiagnóstico del SIDA/métodos , Infecciones por VIH/diagnóstico , Pacientes Internos/estadística & datos numéricos , Tamizaje Masivo/estadística & datos numéricos , Mejoramiento de la Calidad , Calidad de la Atención de Salud , Serodiagnóstico del SIDA/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Conducta Cooperativa , Consejo , Femenino , Infecciones por VIH/prevención & control , Humanos , Masculino , Pediatría , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To characterize cancer patients and to determine the associated health seeking behaviours. METHODS: Between September 2005 and February 2006, we collected data using structured and semi-structured interviews among new cancer patients attending the ORCI. Findings are summarized using univarite and bivariate analyses. RESULTS: There were 330 cancer patients during the study period. The mean age was 48 (SD = 13.5) years ranging between 21 and 84 years. The majority, 205 (62.1%), were females. More than two thirds of all patients, that is 225 (68.2%), presented at the ORCI at advanced stages of disease. Many patients reported to have neither heard, 193 (58.5%), nor to know cancer symptoms, 203 (61.5%). Only 185 (56.1%) of all patients reported their willingness to disclose and a freedom to talk about the disease. Risk factors for cancer staging were sex, patient's education status, awareness and knowledge of disease symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions targeted to improve health care seeking behaviour among cancer patients need to include health education and sensitization specifically of cancer disease, establish a strong referral mechanisms at primary health level and to start a population cancer registry for monitoring and evaluation purposes.