Care management process of breast cancer in primary health-care system, Golestan Province, Iran, 2013–2014

INTRODUCTION: Health-care service processes need to be assessed over time. We aimed to assess the breast cancer care process in primary health system of Golestan Province, North Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To perform a descriptive cross-sectional study, information on breast cancer care processes in primary health-care system was collected using a “collecting form” from 234 health houses, 29 health posts, 44 urban health centers, and 80 rural health centers in Golestan Province. Registered data in the centers and patients’ journal were used in data collection. Moreover, we collected data on all women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 to know the characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: Around 50% of health workers at rural or urban area were trained on breast cancer. Moreover, 2% of women from general population in rural area and around 6% of them in urban area have been trained on breast cancer. Mean age of women diagnosed with breast cancer was 48 ± 10 years and 40.2% of them were affected at age between 43 and 52 years. The results showed that 18.9% of women have received their information through self-study before the diagnosis of breast cancer while 53.8% of them received their information from the private clinics after diagnosis of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The process of breast cancer care in Golestan Province needs to be improved in the primary health-care level. Both inter- and multi-disciplinary activities are needed.