Health providers perspectives on diagnosis and treatment in a HPV-test based screening program

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major public health problem in Argentina and in other countries. OBJECTIVES: From the health professional perspective, to identify barriers and facilitators to the diagnosis and treatment process for women with precancerous lesions within the context of human papillomavirus test implementation in the province of Jujuy. METHODS: From a qualitative approach, 26 in-depth interviews were carried out to public healthcare providers involved in CC prevention activities in Jujuy. RESULTS: Barriers: 1) women related factors (fear, lack of knowledge, cultural factors, areas of residence, living conditions, gender factors); 2) health services related factors (strikes and road blocks, lack of human resources, excessive workload, healthcare professional resistance, lack of supplies, failures in referral and counter-referral systems); 3) difficulties in doctor-patient relationship and communication. Facilitators: 1) active search; 2) health care decentralization; 3) extended schedule and on-demand health service; 4) good doctor-patient communication. CONCLUSIONS: Providers identify barriers and facilitators of different relevance levels. Despite they recognize the impact of cultural factors and communication, these factors are less considered for the implementation of preventive actions.