RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To learn, interpret and understand the information needs of health and disease in users of the healthcare services of the urban Primary Care of Salamanca. DESIGN: Qualitative research corresponding an exploratory qualitative/structural perspective. LOCATION: Primary Care. Urban area, Salamanca in 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Ten discussion groups, 2 composed of members of health-related associations and 8 primary care users, involved a total of 83 people. The structural variables considered are: gender, age, educational level and membership or not associations. METHOD: Generate information to achieve information saturation in the discussion groups. Upon obtaining their informed consent, all subjects in the study participated in videotaped conversations, which were transcribed verbatim. Four researchers categorized the content, intentionality of discourse and developed the concept map. After categorization, triangulation and coding, content obtained was analysed with the NudistQ6 program. RESULTS: Informative content suggest four information needs: health and prevention, early diagnosis, first aid and disease. Different intentions (information needs, watching, claim and improvement) and needs profiles are detected as structural variables. Major information needs are relate to diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options. There is agreement between the groups that the information transmitted to the patient must be intelligible, updated and coordinated among the different professionals and care levels. CONCLUSIONS: Participants require information of a clinical nature to exercise their right to autonomy translating tendency to empower users as part of the social change.