Pap smear collection: Proposal of a low-cost simulator for health education

Abstract

Objective: To develop a low-fidelity and low-cost simulator for health education in Pap smears.

Methods: This is an experience report of the care practice carried out with nine nurses and twenty-five women, during Pap smears in the office of the Rural Zone Family Health Team. The SQUIRE 2.0 method was used in the following steps Context: the issue was analyzed. Intervention: searches for the existence of a simulator with the same purpose. The simulator was built manually, using low-cost materials. Measurements: an evaluation of the nurses' perception of the technology produced was performed. Afterward, it was used with women undergoing Pap smears. Analysis: evaluation was carried out by means of simple descriptive statistics.

Results: A low-cost and fidelity simulator formed by six slides, where the first slide represents a normal cervix; followed by a slide representing a cervix with cervicitis; a cervix with polyp; a cervix with a lesion in the transformation zone; a cervix with malignant neoplasm; and, by a figure equal to the first slide, however, the hole of the endocervix is perforated in order to introduce the brush of the Pap smear kit.

Conclusion and implications for practice: A strengthening of cervical cancer preventive strategies in Primary Health Care was obtained. The simulator allows visualization of the main components of the female genital organ when introducing the speculum, configuring a creative and innovative health education strategy for nursing practice.