Evaluation of the quality of assistance at the Mastology Teaching Unit of the University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: breast cancer is the most frequent types of cancer in Uruguayan women. Every year there are 1,840 new cases and around 660 women die from this disease. The Mastology Teaching Unit was created in 2009 to improve the quality of assistance in patients with breast cancer.
Objective: to evaluate the quality of assistance at the Mastology Teaching Unit of the University Hospital.
Method: observational, retrospective study that included women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in a Mastology Teaching Unit from June 2009 through June, 2014. In order to evaluate the quality of assistance the indicators suggested by the European Society of Mastology in 2010 were used.
Results: 115 patients treated for breast cancer were included in the study. Average age was 63 years old, most patients had breast cancer limited in the breast or armpit, (RRHH) positive hormonal receptors, HER2 negative. The quality criteria associated to preoperative diagnosis, pathology analysis, surgical treatment, radiotherapy and oncologic treatment were met. However, in 40% of cases the time interval between diagnosis and the first oncologic treatment was over six weeks.
Conclusions: care received by patients seen at the Mastology Unit during the referred period met most indicators suggested by the European Society of Mastology. The need to improve the waiting time between diagnosis and the first oncologic treatment is emphasized.