Emotional social support may play a role in early cervical cancer detection among Argentinean females, specifically by encouraging performance of the Pap test. The educational practices accomplished by nurses should include actions that involve the family and community; therefore, emphasizing the importance of social ties on health and promoting interactions between target women and existent social groups in the community.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding the Papanicolaou test in an Argentinean community. Methods Two hundred women were interviewed at their homes in Puerto Leoni, Misiones, Argentina. Women were selected by simple random sampling. Answers were described in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practice, ant their respective adequacies with respect to the Papanicolaou test, as previously defined. Adequacy was compared between the categories of the control variables by χ 2 test with a 5% significance level. Results Knowledge and practice of the Papanicolaou test were adequate in 49.5% and 30.5% of subjects, respectively, although the attitude towards the test was considered adequate in 80.5% of subjects. Another important finding was that women reported as the main reason for not undergoing the test the lack of a request by a physician or healthcare professional. ConclusionsOur results show a need for increasing the information provided to the public, especially by healthcare services and professionals, thus generating knowledge among the population of the advantages and benefits of Papanicolaou testing.

Esta investigação aborda a vivência dos profissionais de serviços básicos de saúde do município do Rio de Janeiro, que realizam atividades de educação em saúde no Programa de Controle da Hanseníase. Os objetivos foram compreender o significado dessas atividades e discutir como o conceito de educação em saúde se relaciona com esta prática. Utilizou-se a fenomenologia de Martin Heidegger como método de obtenção e análise dos depoimentos. Os significados evidenciaram as atividades educativas fundadas nas normas do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase e na tradição de que educação em saúde é transmitir informações necessárias ao cuidado e adesão ao tratamento. Mostrou-se um modo impessoal de desenvolver os conteúdos educativos e um discurso oriundo da prática educativa tradicional. Concluímos que a realização das atividades de educação em saúde ainda está dominada por um fazer inautêntico, mas que este não retira dos profissionais a possibilidade de se voltarem autenticamente ao ser com hanseníase.

LO COTIDIANO DEL TRATAMIENTO DE PERSONAS ENFERMAS DE TUBERCULOSIS EN UNIDADES BÁSICAS DE SALUD: UN ABORDAJE FENOMENOLÓGICO

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the Quality of Life (QoL) and the stomatherapy nursing consultation. Method: Descriptive-correlational study with 100 ostomized adult participants, to whom a form was applied. The data were treated with SPSS software version 20.0. Results: Most ostomized (67%) presented a positive perception of QoL. This differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the types of ostomy and previous preparation in the consultation, as the colostomy patients and the individuals who booked the appointment of the stoma previously during the consultation had a better QoL. Conclusions: There is a statistical relationship between QoL, the type of ostomy and the participation in the stomatherapy nursing consultation, demonstrating the positive influence of nursing care for the ostomized. The study reinforces the importance of consultation for the adaptation of ostomized people to the new condition and improvement of their QoL.