[Quality indicators in the early detection of cervicouterine-cancer in primary health care units].

BACKGROUND: to determine the quality of a prompt cervical cancer detection program (TDC CC) according to the indicators for prevention and diagnosis.

METHODS: cross-sectional and comparative study conducted in four primary care units. We selected 400 patients who attended preventive services to participate in the study of cervical cytology (Pap). The evaluation of the Program of TDC CC was obtained by the degree of fulfillment of quality and productivity outlined by an institutional program. The seven indicators were measured by the same scale. A descriptive statistics, adjusted kappa, and chi square with a level of significance of 95 % confidence interval was used.

RESULTS: the average age was 40 ± 12.6 years. Most women (92.5 %) had information about the Pap screening method in CC, even thought only 25.3 % had this test done in the last three years. The inter-observer agreement was scored low by three cytotechnologists. The degree of compliance according to indicators of the 4 units was 35.7 %, and was rated as moderate. The best indicators were great productivity among cytotechnologists, the number and proportion of re-examined cytologies.

CONCLUSIONS: most indicators were below the expected values.