ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Primary health care-oriented systems provide better healthcare, especially for chronic diseases. This study analyzed the perspectives of physicians and nurses performing care for patients with chronic diseases in Primary Health Care in a Brazilian city. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, using semi-structured interviews with five physicians and 18 nurses. The interview included questions from an analytical matrix based on three dimensions of healthcare practices: organizational, technical care, and biopsychosocial, following a deductive approach. The interviews were fully transcribed and analyzed using a thematic categorical approach. RESULTS: The results indicated that the provision of chronic care occurs in a comprehensive way. Potentialities were identified in the diversification of access, offer of care actions and technologies, integration of teamwork, and bringing together social networks to foster autonomy and self-care. Weaknesses were mostly related to the high number of people in the teams, follow-up of several cases, high turnover of support teams, low integration of Primary Health Care with other levels, difficulties in intersectoral articulation and family participation in care. CONCLUSION: The multidimensional assessment of health care practices aimed at individuals with chronic noncommunicable diseases was useful to portray the strengths and weaknesses of the services. It also ratifies the need to consider the importance of and investment in primary health care by offering the necessary technical, political, logistical and financial support to the units, to ensure the sustainability of the actions by nurses, doctors and entire team.
Subject(s)
Nurses , Physicians , Brazil , Chronic Disease , Humans , Primary Health Care , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
Objetivo: realizar uma reflexão crítica e analítica acerca das práticas de cuidado em saúde no Brasil voltadas para as doenças não transmissíveis no contexto da Estratégia Saúde da Família. Síntese do conteúdo: as reflexões sobre as práticas de cuidado revelaram importantes avanços materializados pela instituição de referências legais no âmbito políticonormativo e assistencial, refletindo em melhor controle das doenças crônicas por longo período. Contudo, o cenário de crise global impôs sérias restrições orçamentárias com implicações político-econômicas e técnico-assistenciais, constituindo, portanto, uma ameaça ao controle das doenças crônicas e um prejuízo para a qualidade de vida da população brasileira. Conclusões: maior sinergia de esforços entre distintos atores sociais será necessária para garantir a defesa da universalidade, a resolutividade, a equidade e a gratuidade das práticas de cuidado em saúde na Estratégia Saúde da Família com foco nas doenças crônicas.
Objetivo: realizar una reflexión crítica y analítica sobre las prácticas de atención en salud dirigidas a las enfermedades no transmisibles a partir del contexto de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia en Brasil. Síntesis de contenido: las reflexiones sobre las prácticas de cuidado revelaron importantes avances materializados por la institución de referencias legales en el ámbito político-normativo y asistencial, los cuales dan cuenta de un mejor control de las enfermedades crónicas durante un mayor período. No obstante, el escenario de crisis global impuso graves restricciones presupuestarias con implicaciones políticoeconómicas y de asistencia técnica, constituyendo una amenaza para el control de las enfermedades crónicas y un perjuicio para la calidad de vida de la población brasileña. Conclusiones: una mayor sinergia entre los diferentes actores sociales será necesaria para garantizar la defensa de la universalidad, resolución, equidad y las prácticas gratuitas de atención en salud promovidas por la Estrategia Salud de la Familia con enfoque en las enfermedades crónicas.
Objective: To provide a critical and analytical reflection on health care practices in Brazil aimed at non-communicable diseases in the context of the Family Health Strategy. Content synthesis: the reflections on the care practices revealed important advances materialized by the institution of legal references in the political-normative and assistance scope, reflecting in a better control of chronic diseases for a long period. However, the global crisis scenario imposed serious budgetary restrictions with political-economic and technical-assistance implications, thus constituting a threat to the control of chronic diseases and a detriment to the quality of life of the Brazilian population. Conclusions: Greater synergy between different social actors and their efforts will be necessary to guarantee the defense of universality, resolution, equity, and free health care practices in the Family Health Strategy with a focus on chronic diseases.