Learning experiences of community health professionals in the early detection of paediatric cancer: qualitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31877/on.2026.52.04Keywords:
Inservice Training, Early detection cancer, Community Health Education, Neoplasms, Child healthAbstract
The objective was to describe the learning and experiences of community health professionals regarding early cancer diagnosis in children and adolescents. A qualitative study with 16 community health professionals. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews. The data were subjected to content analysis and interpreted using the Theory of Meaningful Learning. The study identified two thematic categories: significant learning, which revealed processes that facilitated new knowledge about early cancer diagnosis in children and adolescents; and challenging experiences, which indicate weaknesses in the participants' general training. The conclusion is that there is a need for expansion and investment in training, capacity building, and coordination between health subsystems and the National Health Service to address the weaknesses in knowledge of signs and symptoms for early cancer detection in children and adolescents.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Carolina Ortiz Whitaker, Mariana Moitinho Freire Queiroz da Silva, Thaysy Andrade Silva Bispo, José Lúcio Costa Ramos, Marcia Maria Carneiro Oliveira
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