A atuação do enfermeiro na promoção do rastreamento do câncer do colo de útero na Atenção Primária à Saúde: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CC) stands as a significant public health challenge in Brazil, where early detection, through the cytopathological exam (Pap smear), is the strategic axis of secondary prevention. Notwithstanding the recognized efficacy of this method, women's adherence to screening in Primary Health Care (PHC) shows coverage below the desirable level, which compromises the program's effectiveness. The present study aimed to analyze the determinants that culminate in insufficient CC screening adherence rates and to investigate the strategic role of the nurse in mitigating these barriers. To this end, the methodology adopted was an Integrative Literature Review, with a systematic analysis of a specialized documentary corpus. The research evidenced that non-adherence is intrinsically multifactorial, being modulated by subjective barriers, encompassing fear, body embarrassment, and knowledge déficit, and by structural barriers, related to difficulty accessing services, rigidity in scheduling availability, and lack of humanized reception/care. It is concluded that the nurse in PHC holds a crucial role that transcends the technical competence of sample collection, requiring the leadership of pressing interventions in health education for demystification, the establishment of a therapeutic bond through qualified reception, and the execution of active search actions. The articulation between clinical care and process management is essential for overcoming logistical obstacles and optimizing the effectiveness of the screening.