Current professional practice in Brazilian mental healthcare services / Prácticas profesionales en servicios de salud mental / Praticas profissionais nos serviços de saúde mental

Objective Mental health reform in Brazil presupposes mental health becoming integrated into the Brazilian health system, involving multidisciplinary teams whose professional practice has yet to be defined. The present study forms part of a project aimed at understanding human resources practices in Brazilian mental healthcare services. Methods This was a descriptive, exploratory study using a sample of highly qualified practitioners involved in the Ribeirao Preto/SP public mental health network. The project was approved by the Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing/University of Sao Paulo's ethics committee. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and the data was statistically analyzed. Results One hundred and forty-four of the 193 practitioners from the 8public mental and psychiatric health care services agreed to participate. It was observed that current practice was mainly based on individual care, emphasizing medical, psychological and nursing care. Group activities were more frequently provided by community services. Conclusion Mental care was infrequently prescribed and a low value was placed on activities like observation, recording and therapeutic interaction. Mental care services were being structured; however, practitioners still had difficulties in implementing current policy.

Objetive La aplicación de la reforma de la salud mental en Brasil, supone la integración de la salud mental en el Sistema Nacional de Salud con los equipos multidisciplinarios cuyas prácticas se están definiendo. Esta investigación es parte de un proyecto que intenta comprender las prácticas de recursos humanos en servicios de salud mental. Método Se realizó un estudio descriptivo exploratorio con una muestra compuesta por profesionales de alto nivel de la red pública de salud mental, en Ribeirão Preto/SP. Proyecto aprobado por el Comité de Ética. Se utilizó un cuestionario estructurado y los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente. Resultados Un total de 144 de 193 profesionales de ocho servicios públicos de salud mental aceptaron participar. Se observó que las prácticas se basan principalmente en la asistencia individual, con énfasis en la atención médica, psicológica y de enfermería. Las actividades en grupo son más frecuentes en el servicio comunitario. Conclusión Hay muy poco valor de la prescripción y bajo valor para actividades como la observación, el registro y la interacción terapéutica. Se concluye que los servicios se están estructurando; sin embargo, los profesionales siguen teniendo dificultades para la implementación de las políticas.

Objetivo A implementação da reforma psiquiátrica no Brasil, pressupõe integração da saúde mental no Sistema Único de Saúde com equipes multiprofissionais cujas práticas ainda estão sendo definidas. A presente pesquisa é parte de um projeto que tem por objetivo conhecer a organização e as práticas dos recursos humanos em serviços de saúde mental. Método Trata-se de um estudo exploratório descritivo, com amostra composta pelos profissionais de nível superior da rede pública de saúde mental, do município de Ribeirão Preto/SP. Projeto aprovado por Comitê de Ética. Utilizou-se um questionário semi estruturado cujos dados foram estatisticamente analisados. Resultados Aceitaram participar 144 dos 193 profissionais dos oito serviços públicos de assistência em saúde mental e psiquiatria. Observou-se que as práticas são baseadas principalmente nos atendimentos individuais, com ênfase nos cuidados de enfermagem, médico e psicológico. As atividades grupais são mais freqüentes nos serviços comunitários. Há pouca prescrição e pouca valorização de atividades de observação, registro e interação terapêutica. Conclusão Conclui-se que os serviços estão se estruturando, porém, os profissionais ainda encontram dificuldades na implementação das atuais políticas.

Current professional practice in Brazilian mental healthcare services.

OBJECTIVE: Mental health reform in Brazil presupposes mental health becoming integrated into the Brazilian health system, involving multidisciplinary teams whose professional practice has yet to be defined. The present study forms part of a project aimed at understanding human resources practices in Brazilian mental healthcare services. METHODS: This was a descriptive, exploratory study using a sample of highly qualified practitioners involved in the Ribeirao Preto/SP public mental health network. The project was approved by the Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing/University of Sao Paulo's ethics committee. A semi-structured questionnaire was used and the data was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four of the 193 practitioners from the 8 public mental and psychiatric health care services agreed to participate. It was observed that current practice was mainly based on individual care, emphasizing medical, psychological and nursing care. Group activities were more frequently provided by community services. CONCLUSION: Mental care was infrequently prescribed and a low value was placed on activities like observation, recording and therapeutic interaction. Mental care services were being structured; however, practitioners still had difficulties in implementing current policy.