Comunicação com a mulher sobre a radiação no rastreamento mamográfico

Abstract

Mammographic screening is intended for asymptomatic women and it is essential to inform them about its benefits and risks, including ionizing radiation. The purpose of this article is to analyze how information about the risk of radiation in screening mammography is presented in health communication materials for women. Documentary analysis was made on information materials from government websites and decision aids repository. Fourteen materials were analyzed. There was little information about the risk of radiation and a tendency to emphasize the benefits of screening. The way of presenting the risk was varied and few quantify it. The difficulty implicit in this theme and the importance of considering health literacy in each context are recognized. It is necessary to expand communication with women about breast cancer screening in primary health care, valuing shared decision-making process with the health professional as an ethical principle to be ensured.