Luciana Puchalski Kalinke

Epidemiological profile of women with gynecological cancer in brachytherapy: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical profile of women with gynecological cancer in brachytherapy. Method: a cross-sectional study including records of 1,930 visits of women in brachytherapy assisted between 2006-2016 in Santa Catarina (Brazil). Collection was performed in 2019, in an institutional bank, submitted to frequency measurements, chi-square test, 95% confidence intervals, significance level of 0.05. Results: women aged 40-59 years (47.2%), white (93.3%); with elementary school (65%); cervical cancer (78.5%); stages II-III (73.3%) figured prominently. In the comparison of staging proportions in the topography variable, a higher proportion of malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri unspecified in the grouped III-IV staging (84.6%). Conclusion: the profile analysis shows the need for screening and health education for prevention and/or early detection of gynecological cancers and training of nurses specialized in radiotherapy to care for women’s health.

Effect of guided imagery relaxation on anxiety in cervical cancer: randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the effect of guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality on anxiety in women with cervical cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy. Methods: randomized, non-blinded, single-center clinical trial conducted at a cancer reference hospital. 52 women participated, with randomized allocation of 24 in the control group and 28 in the experimental group (12 sessions of guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality, applied three times a week). The outcome was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and statistical analysis was performed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model. Results: n the experimental group, women presented significant anxiety traits (p=0.010) before the intervention. Between the 4th and 12th week of follow-up, there was a reduction in anxiety levels, without statistical significance. Conclusions: guided imagery relaxation through virtual reality provided evidence of anxiety reduction in women with cervical cancer undergoing radiochemotherapy and may contribute to clinical practice. Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry: RBR-7ssvytb.