ABSTRACT
Objective
To analyze the knowledge, practices, and attitudes about the detection of breast cancer by professional nurses of primary health care in municipalities in the inland of the state of Ceará, Brazil.
Method
A descriptive, cross-sectional and inferential study with a quantitative approach and use of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey, conducted with 62 nurses. The collection took place with the application of a semi-structured questionnaire with 27 items.
Results
With regard to the nurses' knowledge, 6.4% had an adequate knowledge, requiring improvement. Concerning the attitude, 85.4% had an adequate result, and regarding practice, 50% had a regular result.
Conclusion and implications for practice
There is a need for permanent education on the detection and control of breast cancer, making the nursing clinical practice effective and resolutive. Implications for practice: the study has contributed to detect gaps in nursing knowledge, attitude and practice in the early detection and screening of breast cancer and the implementation of the health service for the success of public health policies.
Keywords:
Breast neoplasms; Health promotion; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice