Abstract Analysis of cancer family history (CFH) offers a low-cost genetic tool to identify familial cancer predisposition. In middle-income settings, the scarcity of individual records and database-linked records hinders the assessment of self-reported CFH consistency as an indicator of familial cancer predisposition. We used self-reported CFH to identify those families at risk for hereditary cancer syndromes in community-based primary care centers of a low-income Brazilian area. We also evaluated the consistency of the information collected by reassessing CFH five years later. We interviewed 390 families and constructed their pedigrees for genetic cancer risk assessment. We found 125 families affected by cancer, 35.2% with moderate to high risk of familial susceptibility to cancer, a number that represents a relatively high prevalence of potential hereditary cancer syndromes in the overall study sample. Upon reassessment of CFH in 14/20 families that were previously identified as having at least one first-degree and one second-degree relative affected by cancer, and presented moderate to high risk for developing cancer, 90% of initial pedigrees were confirmed. These results demonstrate the reliability of self-reports as a means of early identification of healthy individuals at risk, encouraging the wider use of this method in low- and middle-income primary care settings.

ABSTRACT The objective was to analyze the process of examinations for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ribeirao Preto. This is a survey type study with a quantitative approach. The study population consisted of 84 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under treatment (aged over 18 years old, living in Ribeirão Preto), from January to April 2009. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire. Moreover, all tests performed by patients interviewed at the time of diagnosis were raised from the System of Tuberculosis Patients Control of the State of São Paulo (TB-WEB). For data analysis, descriptive statistics were used. It was observed that the performance of tests in the laboratory diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis process needs to overcome some organizational, cultural, geographical and economical barriers, since the access to diagnosis has occurred through specialized services, reference for disease control.

RESUMEN El objetivo fue analizar el proceso de realización de exámenes para el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis pulmonar, en la ciudad de Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo del tipo averiguación a partir de un enfoque cuantitativo. La población estudiada consistió en 84 pacientes en tratamiento de la tuberculosis pulmonar (con edad igual o superior a 18 años, que viven en Ribeirão Preto), en el periodo de enero a abril de 2009. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado. Por otra parte, se plantearon todos los exámenes realizados por los enfermos entrevistados en el momento de su diagnóstico en el Sistema de Control de Pacientes con Tuberculosis del Estado de São Paulo (TB-WEB). Para el análisis de los datos, se utilizaron técnicas de estadística descriptiva. Se observó que la realización de exámenes en el proceso de elucidación diagnóstica de la tuberculosis pulmonar necesita superar algunas barreras organizacionales, culturales, geográficas y económicas, ya que el acceso al diagnóstico se ha producido a través de servicios especializados y de referencia para el control de la enfermedad.

Objetivou-se analisar o processo de realização de exames para o diagnóstico da tuberculose pulmonar, no município de Ribeirão Preto. Estudo epidemiológico descritivo do tipo inquérito a partir de uma abordagem quantitativa. A população de estudo foi constituída por 84 doentes de tuberculose pulmonar em tratamento (com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, residentes em Ribeirão Preto), no período de janeiro a abril de 2009. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas e para tal utilizou-se um questionário estruturado. De forma complementar, foram levantados todos os exames realizados pelos doentes entrevistados no período do seu diagnóstico no Sistema de Controle de Pacientes com Tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo (TB-WEB). Para análise dos dados, foram utilizadas técnicas de estatística descritiva. Observou-se que a realização de exames no processo de elucidação diagnóstica da tuberculose pulmonar precisa transpor algumas barreiras organizacionais, culturais, geográficas e econômicas, visto que o acesso ao diagnóstico tem ocorrido por meio dos serviços especializados e de referência para controle da doença.