Functioning in Women with Cervical Cancer in Brazil: the Perspective of Experts

A study was conducted with specialists using the Delphi methodology. The specialist contacts were found in oncology organizations and associations, as well as in a referral hospital in the treatment of CC. The questions that the experts answered covered the biopsychosocial domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Results

Twenty-five specialists participated in the study. The experts’ responses generated 485 significant concepts. The categories that presented the highest frequencies of reporting by the specialists were health services, systems and policies; structure of the reproductive system; health professionals and sexual function.

Conclusion

Regarding the perception of the specialists, this study concluded that 24 categories of ICF are the most relevant in the context of functioning in women with CC. The results suggest that the biopsychosocial perspective was incorporated in the experts’ perceptions about the functioning phenomenon in women with CC in Brazil.

Keywords:
health personnel; international classification of functioning; disability and health; medical oncology; uterine cervical neoplasms

Asked of the experts	Component of the ICF
If you think about the body and mind of women with cervical cancer, what problems are relevant to people with this condition?	Body functions
If you think about the body of women with cervical cancer, in which parts are the problems?	Body structures
If you think about the everyday life of women with cervical cancer, what are their problems?	Activities and participation
If you think about the environment and the living conditions of women with cervical cancer, what could be considered as a support?	Environmental factors-facilitators
If you think about the environment and the living conditions of women with cervical cancer, which could be considered as a barrier?	Environmental factors-barriers

	N (%)
Sex
Female	21(84)
Male	4 (16)
Higher degree
Lato-Sensu	16 (64)
Master's degree	6 (24)
PhD	3 (12)
Area of practice
Clinic	14 (56)
Research	3 (12)
Management	5 (20)
Teaching	3 (12)
	Mean (standard deviation)	Median
Age	38.0 (5.6)	37
Time to degree	14.4 (5.4)	14
Time of experience in oncoginecology area	10.3 (5.6)	10

ICF Category	Description	%*
Body functions
b152	Emotional functions	16.7
b280	Sensation of pain	8.4
b435	Immunological system functions	9.1
b620	Urination functions	10.5
b640	Sexual functions	21
b660	Procreation functions	7
Body structures
s540	Structure of the intestine	12.6
s610	Structure of the urinary system	14.6
s620	Structure of the pelvic floor	7.8
s630	Structure of the reproductive system	47.6
s750	Structure of the lower extremity	8.7
Activity and participation
d450	Walking	5.6
d570	Looking after one's health	7.4
d760	Family relationships	11.1
d770	Intimate relationships	9.3
d845	Acquiring, keeping, and terminating a job	5.6
d850	Remunerative employment	9.3
d910	Community life	5.6
d920	Recreation and leisure	11.1
Environmental factors-facilitators
e310	Immediate family	20.7
e315	Extended family	7
e355	Health professionals	25.9
e530	Utilities services, systems, and policies	5.2
e580	Health services, systems, and policies	8.6
Environmental factors/barriers
e315	Extended family	12.2
e580	Health services, systems, and policies	51.2

Federação Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 3421, sala 903 - Jardim Paulista, 01401-001 São Paulo SP - Brasil, Tel. (55 11) 5573-4919 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: editorial.office@febrasgo.org.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Address for correspondence Luciana Castaneda, Rua Professor Carlos Wenceslau, 343, 21715-000, Realengo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil (e-mail: lucianacastaneda@yahoo.com.br).