Implementation of a digital tool for population management in Primary Health Care.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the implementation of a digital diagnostic and territorial monitoring tool in primary healthcare. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative study, developed in 14 basic healthcare units in São Paulo, with community health workers, coordinators, nurses, and physicians. Data collection occurred in four phases: analysis of the instruments used by the team for territory management; development of the digital tool; training and implementation; and evaluation after 90 days using focus groups. Descriptive analyses were conducted by calculating absolute and relative frequencies to treat quantitative data. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-four professionals participated in the study. In the first step, territory management's main challenges were filling out various instruments, system failures, data inconsistency, internet infrastructure/network, and lack of time. Therefore, a digital tool was developed consisting of 1) a spreadsheet recording the number of family members and markers of health conditions, date of visit, and number of return visits; 2) a spreadsheet with a summary of families visited, not visited, and refusals; and 3) a panel with a summary of the data generated instantly. In the evaluation, after the initial use of the tool, the themes that emerged were integration of the tool into daily work, evaluation of the digital tool implementation process, and improvement and opportunities for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Faced with the challenges faced by family healthcare teams when filling out systems and managing the territory, the tool developed provided greater reliability and agility in data visualization, reduced the volume of instruments, and optimized the work process.

Implementation of a digital tool for population management in Primary Health Care / Implementação de ferramenta digital para gestão populacional na atenção primária à saúde

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Describe the implementation of a digital diagnostic and territorial monitoring tool in primary healthcare. METHODS Quantitative and qualitative study, developed in 14 basic healthcare units in São Paulo, with community health workers, coordinators, nurses, and physicians. Data collection occurred in four phases: analysis of the instruments used by the team for territory management; development of the digital tool; training and implementation; and evaluation after 90 days using focus groups. Descriptive analyses were conducted by calculating absolute and relative frequencies to treat quantitative data. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. RESULTS Three hundred thirty-four professionals participated in the study. In the first step, territory management's main challenges were filling out various instruments, system failures, data inconsistency, internet infrastructure/network, and lack of time. Therefore, a digital tool was developed consisting of 1) a spreadsheet recording the number of family members and markers of health conditions, date of visit, and number of return visits; 2) a spreadsheet with a summary of families visited, not visited, and refusals; and 3) a panel with a summary of the data generated instantly. In the evaluation, after the initial use of the tool, the themes that emerged were integration of the tool into daily work, evaluation of the digital tool implementation process, and improvement and opportunities for improvement. CONCLUSIONS Faced with the challenges faced by family healthcare teams when filling out systems and managing the territory, the tool developed provided greater reliability and agility in data visualization, reduced the volume of instruments, and optimized the work process.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever a implementação de uma ferramenta digital de diagnóstico e monitoramento territorial na atenção primária à saúde. MÉTODOS Estudo quanti-qualitativo, desenvolvido em 14 Unidades Básicas de Saúde do município de São Paulo, com agentes comunitários de saúde, coordenadores, enfermeiros e médicos. A coleta de dados ocorreu em quatro fases: análise dos instrumentos utilizados pela equipe para gestão do território; desenvolvimento da ferramenta digital; treinamento e implantação; avaliação após 90 dias por meio de grupos focais. Foram realizadas análises descritivas por meio do cálculo de frequências absolutas e relativas para tratamento dos dados quantitativos. Os dados qualitativos foram tratados pela análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS 334 profissionais participaram do estudo. Na primeira etapa foram identificados como principais desafios para gestão do território o preenchimento de diversos instrumentos, falhas no sistema, inconsistência dos dados, infraestrutura/rede de internet e falta de tempo. Assim, foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta digital composta por: i) planilha com registro do número de membros familiares e marcadores de condições de saúde, data da visita e quantidade de revisitas; ii) planilha com resumo de famílias visitadas, não visitadas e recusas; e iii) um painel com resumo dos dados gerados instantaneamente. Na avaliação, após uso inicial da ferramenta, as temáticas que emergiram foram: integração da ferramenta no cotidiano de trabalho; avaliação do processo de implementação da ferramenta digital; aperfeiçoamento e oportunidades de melhoria. CONCLUSÃO Frente aos desafios encontrados por parte das equipes de saúde da família para preenchimento dos sistemas e gestão do território, a ferramenta desenvolvida proporcionou maior fidedignidade e agilidade na visualização dos dados, redução no volume de instrumentos e otimização do processo de trabalho.