Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study
Background and study aims Gastrointestinal cancer is an important cause of death worldwide. Remote populations are especially vulnerable to these conditions due to reduced access to screening and adequate treatment. In this context, the Belterra project was designed as a pilot taskforce to deliver g...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Georg Thieme Verlag KG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Endoscopy International Open |
| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-1386-2095 |
| _version_ | 1818594773947121664 |
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| author | Pedro Averbach Angelo Paulo Ferrari Cristiana M Toscano José Luiz Borges Marcelo Averbach |
| author_facet | Pedro Averbach Angelo Paulo Ferrari Cristiana M Toscano José Luiz Borges Marcelo Averbach |
| author_sort | Pedro Averbach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and study aims Gastrointestinal cancer is an important cause of death worldwide. Remote populations are especially vulnerable to these conditions due to reduced access to screening and adequate treatment. In this context, the Belterra project was designed as a pilot taskforce to deliver gastrointestinal screening to an underserved Amazonian population and to spread knowledge and practice to local health workers. This study aimed to describe the implementation and present the results of the Belterra Project.
Patients and methods The project took place between October 2014 and December 2017 in Belterra, Pará, Brazil. Public-private partnerships were obtained and were essential for funding. The project required complex logistic solutions to provide gastrointestinal screening to every inhabitant between 50 and 70 years of age, including medical equipment and personal transportation to a remote area. Subjects were asked about their medical history, and received a physical examination, endoscopic examinations, and stool tests.
Results Over the course of 19 expeditions, we screened 2,022 inhabitants of Belterra, aged 50 to 70 years. Five colorectal and six gastric adenocarcinomas were diagnosed, as were several lower-stage lesions. Overall, 26 % of the participants undergoing colonoscopy showed some type of colonic lesion.
Conclusions Notwithstanding the geographical, cultural, and financial barriers, this study suggests that the implementation of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program for remote Brazilian populations is feasible, reaching high adherence. Although logistics is very demanding, such campaigns may be a good strategy to provide mass gastrointestinal cancer screening for underserved populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:05:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e35ef463bd74244ae219edf748dc7bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2364-3722 2196-9736 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:05:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Georg Thieme Verlag KG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endoscopy International Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e35ef463bd74244ae219edf748dc7bb2022-12-21T22:33:52ZengGeorg Thieme Verlag KGEndoscopy International Open2364-37222196-97362021-05-010906E770E77610.1055/a-1386-2095Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive studyPedro Averbach0Angelo Paulo Ferrari1Cristiana M Toscano2José Luiz Borges3Marcelo Averbach4Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, BrazilDepartamento de Saúde Coletiva, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, BrazilInstituto Sírio-Libanês de Ensino e Pesquisa, São Paulo, BrazilInstituto Sírio-Libanês de Ensino e Pesquisa, São Paulo, BrazilBackground and study aims Gastrointestinal cancer is an important cause of death worldwide. Remote populations are especially vulnerable to these conditions due to reduced access to screening and adequate treatment. In this context, the Belterra project was designed as a pilot taskforce to deliver gastrointestinal screening to an underserved Amazonian population and to spread knowledge and practice to local health workers. This study aimed to describe the implementation and present the results of the Belterra Project. Patients and methods The project took place between October 2014 and December 2017 in Belterra, Pará, Brazil. Public-private partnerships were obtained and were essential for funding. The project required complex logistic solutions to provide gastrointestinal screening to every inhabitant between 50 and 70 years of age, including medical equipment and personal transportation to a remote area. Subjects were asked about their medical history, and received a physical examination, endoscopic examinations, and stool tests. Results Over the course of 19 expeditions, we screened 2,022 inhabitants of Belterra, aged 50 to 70 years. Five colorectal and six gastric adenocarcinomas were diagnosed, as were several lower-stage lesions. Overall, 26 % of the participants undergoing colonoscopy showed some type of colonic lesion. Conclusions Notwithstanding the geographical, cultural, and financial barriers, this study suggests that the implementation of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program for remote Brazilian populations is feasible, reaching high adherence. Although logistics is very demanding, such campaigns may be a good strategy to provide mass gastrointestinal cancer screening for underserved populations.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-1386-2095 |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Averbach Angelo Paulo Ferrari Cristiana M Toscano José Luiz Borges Marcelo Averbach Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study Endoscopy International Open |
| title | Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study |
| title_full | Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study |
| title_fullStr | Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study |
| title_short | Implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an Amazon rainforest village: A descriptive study |
| title_sort | implementation and results of a gastrointestinal cancer screening program in an amazon rainforest village a descriptive study |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-1386-2095 |
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