Câncer de pele em idosos residentes na área rural: prevalência e hábitos de prevenção da doença

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with skin cancer in elderly people living in rural area of a municipality in southern Brazil. This study originates from another larger study called "Prevalence and factors associated with the frailty syndrome in the elderly." It is a quantitative, cross-sectional and analytical study, made with elderly people aged 60 and over who were registered in Basic Health Units with the Family Health Strategy (UBS-ESF) the rural municipality of Pelotas. Data collection occurred from July to October in 2014 and the sample consisted of 820 elderly both male and females. It was used questions relating to demographic and economic variables, preventive measures taken by the elderly to the different types of cancer, prevalence of self-reported skin cancer. For the choice of survey participants, there was a previous draw of the medical records of UBS-ESF which had elderly people in the residence all of the elderly in the residence contemplated during the draw were invited to participate. The interviews were conducted by academics voluntary nursing, Masters Students and doctoral students of the Graduate Program in Nursing at the Federal University of Pelotas, previously trained. Data had double entered by independent typists and consistency check in Epi Info® 6.04 software and after the data was transferred to the statistical program Stata® 11.1, in which the analyzes were performed. This study followed the Resolution 446/2012, which deals with research involving humans. The project had a positive opinion (number 649 802, of May 19, 2014) of the Ethics Committee of the Nursing School of the Federal University of Pelotas. As main results, it was found that the prevalence of skin cancer in the study population was 4.8%, with 50% male and 50% female. Over 83% of the study population is exposed to the sun, 66.2% are exposed at the time when UV rays are most intense and 73% have never used sunscreen. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of skin cancer in rural elderly was low, and some take care of the skin, it is necessary to invest in health actions that reinforce the measures of prevention of skin cancer.