Primary health care and the coordination of care in health regions: managers' and users' perspective

Configuration of Health Care Networks in the SUS: analysis based on primary and hospital care components

This study seeks to point out the different configurations of Health Care Networks in primary care (AB) and Hospital Care (AH), dimensioned based on coverage, quality, and resolvability characteristics in health macro-regions. Cross-sectional study used the cluster analysis and segmented 103 macro-regions into different profiles of coverage, quality and resolubility: group 1 (high coverage/AB and medium/AH; low quality AB-AH with high resolubility); group 2 (high coverage/AB and low/AH; low quality AB-AH with medium resolubility) and group 3 (high coverage/AB and medium/AH; high quality AB-AH with high resolubility). Coverage in AB was classified as high for 100% of the Brazilian population and in AH low to 9.70% and medium to 90.29%. Quality/AB-AH is low for 58.54% and high for 41.15%. Resolubility is high for 90.29% and medium for 9.70%. In Brazil, there is expansion of coverage with low quality/AB; shortage of hospital beds and low quality/HA with high resolution. However, in the Southeast and South, high AB-AH quality prevails. The structuring of health networks is still characterized by low resolution, demanding incentives for the governance of inter-federal arrangements.

Users' Perceptions of Access to and Quality of Unified Health System Services in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study and Implications to Healthcare Management Challenges

Evaluating the access to and quality of healthcare services from the users' perspective is an important assessment process to identify priorities. This study assessed the profile of health service usage and the views of the Unified Health System (SUS) users about the access to and quality of SUS public health services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants from the Coastal Lowlands Region of the Rio de Janeiro State/Brazil, between August and November 2023. The association between categorical variables was analyzed using the Pearson Chi-Square test, using R software 4.3. A total of 200 individuals were interviewed using a 66-question survey instrument. Participants who reported using SUS services more frequently rated this system as essential (p-value = 0.031). However, overall, 64% of participants rated the quality of care to be very bad/bad and 34.9% rated access as very bad/bad. Access was considered poor by respondents who used public services rarely or sometimes (p-value = 0.002). In terms of accessing SUS services consultations provided by specialists (e.g., neurologists), these were available only in another municipality (p-value = 0.001). Many participants were SUS dependent for health services, and gaps and weaknesses were observed regarding users' perspectives of the access to and quality of SUS health care. Policymakers should prioritize evaluations and dialogue with the community to make SUS services responsive and to optimize value-for-money in health service planning.

Challenges to implementing planning processes in Brazilian health regions

OBJECTIVE

To recognize elements that facilitated or hindered the PlanificaSUS implementation stages.

METHODS

A multiple case study was carried out in four pre-selected health regions in Brazil-Belo Jardim (PE), Fronteira Oeste (RS), Sul-Mato-Grossense (MT) and Valença (BA) using systemic arterial hypertension and maternal and child care as tracer conditions. Participant observation (in regional interagency commissions) and in-depth interviews with key informants from state and municipal management and primary health care and specialized outpatient care service professionals within the project were carried out in these four regions. Analysis was built according to political, technical-operational, and contextual dimensions.

RESULTS

The political dimension evinced that the regions found the project an opportunity to articulate states and municipalities and an important political bet to build networks and lines of care but that there remained much to be faced in the disputes related to building the Unified Health System (SUS). In the technical operational dimension, it is important to consider that primary health care stimulated a culture of local planning and favored traditional tools to organize and improve it, such as organizing registrations, agendas, and demands. However, centralized training and planning-inducing processes fail to always respond to local needs and can produce barriers to implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

It is worth considering the central and regional role of state managers in the commitment related to the project and the effect of mobilizing primary health care and expanding its power. There remains much to be faced in the disputes at stake in bullring SUS.

Decentralizing referral prioritization to general practitioners at the primary care level: A qualitative case study based on the Grounded Theory

BACKGROUND

Patient referral prioritizations is an essential process in coordinating healthcare delivery, since it organizes the waiting lists according to priorities and availability of resources.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to highlight the consequences of decentralizing ambulatory patient referrals to general practitioners that work as family physicians in primary care clinics.

METHODS

A qualitative case study was carried out in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The ten health regions of Rio de Janeiro were visited during fieldwork, totalizing 35 hours of semi-structured interviews and approximately 70 hours of analysis based on the Grounded Theory.

RESULTS

The findings of this study show that the obstacles to adequate referrals are beyond the management of vacancies, ranging from the standardization of prioritization criteria to ensuring the proper employment of referral protocols in diverse locations assisted by overloaded health workers with different backgrounds and perceptions. Efforts in decentralizing patient referral to primary care still face the growing dilemmas and challenges of expanding the coverage of health services while putting pressure on risk assessment, as well as sustaining the autonomy of physicians' work while respecting the eligibility when ordering waiting lists.

CONCLUSION

A major strength of this work is on the method to organize and aggregate qualitative data using visual representations. Limitations concerning the reach of fieldwork in vulnerable and hardly accessible areas were overcame using snowball sampling techniques, making more participants accessible.

Integration measurement and its applications in low- and middle-income country health systems: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Despite growing interest in and commitment to integration, or integrated care, the concept is ill-defined and the resulting evidence base fragmented, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Underlying this challenge is a lack of coherent approaches to measure the extent of integration and how this influences desired outcomes. The aim of this scoping review is to identify measurement approaches for integration in LMICs and map them for future use.

METHODS

Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping reviews was followed. We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature measuring integration in LMICs across three databases and screened identified papers by predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A modified version of the Rainbow Model for Integrated Care guided charting and analysis of the data.

RESULTS

We included 99 studies. Studies were concentrated in the Africa region and most frequently focused on the integration of HIV care with other services. A range of definitions and methods were identified, with no single approach for the measurement of integration dominating the literature. Measurement of clinical integration was the most common, with indicators focused on measuring receipt of two or more services provided at a single point of time. Organizational and professional integration indicators were focused on inter- and intra-organizational communication, collaboration, coordination, and continuity of care, while functional integration measured common information systems or patient records. Gaps were identified in measuring systems and normative integration. Few tools were validated or publicly available for future use.

CONCLUSION

We identified a wide range of recent approaches used to measure integration in LMICs. Our findings underscore continued challenges with lack of conceptual cohesion and fragmentation which limits how integration is understood in practice.

Successes, weaknesses, and recommendations to strengthen primary health care: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Primary health care (PHC) is a roadmap for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). There were several fragmented and inconclusive pieces of evidence needed to be synthesized. Hence, we synthesized evidence to fully understand the successes, weaknesses, effective strategies, and barriers of PHC.

METHODS

We followed the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews checklist. Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-approach studies were included. The result synthesis is in a realistic approach with identifying which strategies and challenges existed at which country, in what context and why it happens.

RESULTS

A total of 10,556 articles were found. Of these, 134 articles were included for the final synthesis. Most studies (86 articles) were quantitative followed by qualitative (26 articles), and others (16 review and 6 mixed methods). Countries sought varying degrees of success and weakness. Strengths of PHC include less costly community health workers services, increased health care coverage and improved health outcomes. Declined continuity of care, less comprehensive in specialized care settings and ineffective reform were weaknesses in some countries. There were effective strategies: leadership, financial system, 'Diagonal investment', adequate health workforce, expanding PHC institutions, after-hour services, telephone appointment, contracting with non-governmental partners, a 'Scheduling Model', a strong referral system and measurement tools. On the other hand, high health care cost, client's bad perception of health care, inadequate health workers, language problem and lack of quality of circle were barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

There was heterogeneous progress towards PHC vision. A country with a higher UHC effective service coverage index does not reflect its effectiveness in all aspects of PHC. Continuing monitoring and evaluation of PHC system, subsidies to the poor, and training and recruiting an adequate health workforce will keep PHC progress on track. The results of this review can be used as a guide for future research in selecting exploratory and outcome parameters.

[Analysis of the structuring of the Health Care Network in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, within the context of Regionalization]

The article analyzes aspects of the structuring of the health care network in the regions of the State of Mato Grosso, and the narrative about them, by institutional actors representing management, service providers and society. It is based on research on governance and regionalization of the SUS in this state, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, the empirical basis of which included secondary data, institutional documents and interviews with key actors representing management, service providers and society. In this research, the focus was on coverage of the Family Health Strategy; availability of health services; workforce; expenses on health. Between 2010 and 2018, despite the improvement of several indicators examined: the supply and distribution of services and professionals reveal regional inequalities; there are financial limitations and a lack of services and professionals. The Health Care Network (HCN) is not structured as regulated, but rather as each region - and its municipalities - interprets and adapts it, according to its installed capacity. The PHC network has promoted advances, but it has not been able to be effective and resolute in terms of health needs, not providing care properly nor coordinating the HCN.

Work process for coordination of care in the Family Health Strategy

Abstract Objective To understand the work process of Family Health Strategy teams in the coordination of care, highlighting factors involved in this coordination. Method Qualitative study based on the attributes of care coordination, carried out with 18 care and management professionals between January and March 2020. Results Three final themes emerged: “Care plan”; “Standardization of practices”; and “Dialogical communication at different levels of care”. The pattern of responses points to the fragmentation of care and weakens coordination mechanisms. The exposure of restrictive factors related to the meso- and macro-organizational levels of the municipal health system reverberates in the ability of teams to coordinate care. Conclusion and implications for practice The coordination of care faces obstacles related to the work process of teams and structural issues in the organization of the health network. The contributions go beyond care and management, reaching education, research, and extension in professional training. Permanent education enables reorientations to guarantee the flow of users in the care network and provide comprehensive care to the population.

A framework to assess potential health system resilience using fuzzy logic

Objectives

To develop and test a framework to assess the potential of public health systems to maintain a resilient performance.

Methods

Quantitative data from public databases and qualitative data from technical reports of Brazilian health authorities were used to develop the framework which was assessed and modified by experts. Fuzzy logic was used for the mathematical model to determine scores for four resilient abilities - monitoring, anticipation, learning, and response - and an aggregated coefficient of resilient potential in health care. The coefficient measures used data from before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These were compared with measures of the actual performance of health systems in 10 cities in Brazil during the pandemic.

Results

The coefficient of resilient potential in health care showed that the cities most affected by COVID-19 had lower potential for resilient performance before the pandemic. Some local health systems had adequate response capabilities, but other abilities were not well developed, which adversely affected the management of the spread of COVID-19.

Conclusions

The coefficient of resilient potential in health care is useful to indicate important areas for resilient performance and the different types of resilience capacities that can be considered in different contexts and levels of public health systems. Regular assessment of the potential of health systems for resilient performance would help highlight opportunities for continuous improvement in health system functions during chronic stress situations, which could strengthen their ability to keep functioning in the face of sudden disturbances.

Processo de trabalho para coordenação do cuidado na Estratégia de Saúde da Família

Resumo Objetivo Compreender o processo de trabalho de equipes da Estratégia Saúde da Família na coordenação do cuidado, ressaltando fatores intervenientes a essa coordenação. Método Pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, ancorada nos atributos da coordenação do cuidado, realizada com 18 profissionais da atenção e gestão, entre janeiro e março de 2020. Resultados Emergiram três temas finais: “Plano de cuidados”, “Alinhamento de condutas” e “Comunicação dialógica nos distintos níveis de atenção”. O padrão de respostas aponta a fragmentação da assistência e fragiliza os mecanismos de coordenação. A exposição de fatores restritivos relativos ao nível meso e macro organizacional do sistema municipal de saúde reverbera na capacidade das equipes de coordenar o cuidado ao usuário. Conclusão e implicações para a prática A coordenação do cuidado enfrenta obstáculos relacionados ao processo de trabalho das equipes e questões estruturais na organização da rede de saúde. As contribuições transpõem a atenção e gestão, alcançam o ensino, pesquisa e extensão na formação profissional. A educação permanente possibilita reorientações para garantir o fluxo dos usuários na rede de atenção e propiciar atenção integral à população.

[Primary care in the context of the Zika epidemic and congenital Zika syndrome in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: context, bond and care]

The Zika epidemic brought to the fore the birth of children with unknown and unexpected needs that demand longitudinal follow-up, strengthening the bond, comprehensiveness and coordination of care in health, which are essential attributes of primary health care (PHC). This article aims to evaluate the orientation of PHC care, using the PCATool-Brasil. The data were collected between 2016 and 2019, by means of interviews with parents of children who were born in a public maternity hospital in Recife (state of Pernambuco) between October 2015 and February 2016, a critical period of the microcephaly outbreak, especially in the Northeast of Brazil. The parents of 109 children participated in the survey, 15.6% of which had a confirmed microcephaly diagnosis. The degree of affiliation and access was sufficient, but the aspects of coordination of care, longitudinality, comprehensiveness, family and community orientation were insufficient. In the context of congenital Zika syndrome, these attributes are essential for the care of children and families. The fostering of health from these domains depends on the orientation of the models of care and their management with state and federal investments. The defense of life depends on the ability to place life above all other rationalities.

Vínculo longitudinal da Estratégia Saúde da Família na linha de frente da pandemia da Covid-19

RESUMO Este artigo analisa o processo de trabalho da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) na pandemia da Covid-19 segundo o atributo do vínculo longitudinal da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Estudo transversal, de caráter descritivo e analítico, com levantamento de dados primários, coletados mediante inquérito nacional por meio de um survey eletrônico, de abrangência nacional, realizado no 2º semestre de convivência com a doença. No presente recorte, incluíram-se o Ceará e a Paraíba, estados do Nordeste com mais de 84% de cobertura da ESF. Prevaleceram as participações de trabalhadoras (962), sendo agentes comunitários de saúde (29%) e enfermeiras (26,61%), mulheres (81,19%), de 18 a 39 anos (61,85%), servidoras estatutárias (48,75%), atuantes em territórios urbanos (58,63%). Das participantes, 92,54% trabalhavam no período, sendo apenas 4,7% a distância. Em relação às atividades, 51,53% declararam estar ‘realizando atividades de rotina, como antes’; e 31,42% revelaram estar ‘priorizando atividades relacionadas a Covid-19’. Novos cadastros do Cartão SUS foram efetivados segundo 67,94% das participantes. A pesquisa confirma que a ESF é porta de entrada muito frequente, se não a principal, de casos de Covid-19 e que embora atenda às dimensões do atributo, está fragilizada em sua efetivação para o cuidado dos usuários adscritos.

Longitudinal link of the Family Health Strategy at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the Family Health Strategy (ESF) work process in the Covid-19 pan- demic per the PHC longitudinal linkage attribute. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study collected primary data from a national electronic survey carried out from September to December 2020. Ceará and Paraíba, States of the Northeastern region with more than 84% ESF coverage, were included in this excerpt. The participation of female workers (962) prevailed, with Community Health Workers (ACS, 29%) and nurses (26.61%), women (81.19%), 18-39 years of age (61.85%), statutory public servants (48,75%), active in urban territories (58.63%). Approximately 92.54% of the participants worked in the period, with only 4.70% working remotely. A total of 51.53% stated that they were ‘carrying out routine activities, as before’, and 31.42% revealed they were ‘prioritizing activities related to Covid-19’. New SUS Card registrations were made according to 67.94% of the participants. The research confirms that the ESF is a very frequent gateway, if not the main one, for Covid-19 cases and that its effectiveness for the care of the registered users is weakened although it meets the dimensions of its attribute.

The right to health in the territory: service users' perceptions of Primary Health Care

Primary health care is an essential component of effective health systems. The aim of this study aim was to evaluate the quality of primary care in a city in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We conducted an exploratory study with 525 service users using structured questionnaires. The quality of primary care was assessed across five dimensions: accessibility, clinical care, professional-user relations, community activities and structure. The findings point to the perpetuation of social vulnerabilities and challenges in achieving equitable universal care. Dissatisfaction rates were highest in the following categories: access to specialist appointments and exams, appointment wait time, and opportunity to make complaints. However, respondents were satisfied with medical and nursing care, particularly in relation to respect, privacy, listening and confidentiality. The findings show that, although health professionals were committed to providing humanized care, fragmentation of care is evident, hampering the provision of adequate and timely follow-up and negatively affecting the quality of care.

Breast cancer screening in Primary Health Care in Brazil: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

to analyze care strategies for breast cancer screening in Primary Health Care in Brazil.

METHODS

this is a systematic review following the Cochrane Collaboration recommendations.

RESULTS

among 355 manuscripts, five were eligible. The patient navigation program by Community Health Agent stood out with the best result, among the strategies: flexibility of goals considering viability; community engagement; team training; active search of the target population by Community Health Agent; request for mammography by physicians; actions integrated to women's health; monitoring of mammography results, absent users, and population coverage by physician and nurse; and assessment of criteria for requesting screening mammography by means of an information system. The population coverage rate in the program ranged from 23% to 88%.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary Health Care in Brazil presents devices with potential to induce the production of care for breast cancer screening.

Communication in health and inter-professional collaboration in the care for children with chronic conditions

Objective:

to understand how health communication in the care of children with chronic conditions interferes with inter-professional collaboration.

Method:

a multicentric qualitative research. Data collection, carried out through interviews and observation, occurred from October 2017 to February 2018. For data organization, the NVivo software, version 12, was used. These data were analyzed from a dialectical perspective.

Results:

a total of 79 professionals were interviewed, including physicians and nurses in the Family Health Strategy. Essential markers for inter-professionality stand out, such as multi-institutional communication; the historical and political context of the municipalities; the bond between staff and families with children with chronic conditions; and active and purposeful communication.

Conclusion:

inter-professional collaboration is strengthened when the therapeutic plan of the child with a chronic condition is coordinated by the Family Health Strategy, plus the intention of communicating with the secondary sector. It is considered that the research included important issues, contributing to planning the work process in the Family Health Strategy.

Community health workers' attitudes, practices and perceptions towards the COVID-19 pandemic in brazilian low-income communities

BACKGROUND

Community Health Workers (CHW) are a category of social workers described in many countries' health systems as responsible for engaging people in their residences and communities, and other non-clinical spaces to enable access to health services, especially in low-income areas. These professionals have been exposed to numerous new risks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

This study describes how the COVID-19 pandemic is perceived by CHWs who work in poor communities or slums in Brazil.

METHODS

We conducted an online survey with a random sample of 775 CHWs operating in 368 municipalities of the 26 Brazilian states. At a confidence level of 95%, results of the survey were subject to a maximum sampling error of 4%.

RESULTS

Our data indicate that the negationist agenda increases the challenges to the performance of CHWs within low-income communities, preventing the consensus on the necessity of social distancing, business closures and other measures to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The pandemic imposes unexpected challenges on the usual modes of interaction of public health officers with poor communities. This study provides evidence that these challenges have been ignored or minimized in Brazilian policy prescriptions for primary care in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A atenção básica na perspectiva de gestores públicos do sistema único de saúde: estudo qualitativo

Resumo A Atenção Básica (AB) refere-se ao nível de atenção que permite cidadãos(ãs) acessarem o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) longitudinal e continuadamente. A proposta e operacionalização da gestão em Saúde reafirmam valores sociais como o direito à saúde. Com o objetivo de analisar qualitativamente perspectivas relacionadas a este nível de atenção entrevistou-se gestores(as) de diferentes níveis hierárquicos da AB de um município de Mato Grosso. As informações produzidas foram submetidas à Análise de Conteúdo na modalidade temática, referenciada pelo pensamento e planejamento estratégicos em saúde, no âmbito da Saúde Coletiva. Os dados relativos à gestão em saúde na AB e ao atendimento à população produziram núcleos temáticos envolvendo gestão rotativa, atuação fragmentada e emergencial; oposição entre humanização e técnica; promoção vertical da saúde. Os(as) gestores(as) demonstraram compromisso e busca pela manutenção dos serviços por meio de ações assistenciais e pontuais. A organização top-down, na qual não está prevista a participação dos usuários(as) como condição para o planejamento, parece ter reforçado incoerências entre a proposta abrangente da AB e os diuturnos imprevistos estruturais, dificultando a problematização necessária à transformação dos processos de trabalho. Fortalecer institucionalmente a rede de AB exige investimento, qualificação profissional permanente e participação ativa dos sujeitos.

Assessment of the quality of Primary Health Care in Fortaleza, Brazil, from the perspective of adult service users in 2019

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the "front door" and keystone of Brazil's public health system, meaning that the evaluation of the quality of primary care services is of utmost importance. Using the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), this study evaluated the performance of public PHC services in Fortaleza from the view of adult service users. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 233 adult service users from 19 primary care centers (PCCs) between June and December 2019, collecting data on the sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of users and structural features of PCCs. The association between user and PCC characteristics and primary care attribute scores was measured by multilevel logistic regression. Most participants were women, aged between 30 and 59 years, brown, house owners, had completed high school, did not own health insurance, and belonged to families with at least 4 members. The lowest and highest-scoring attributes were "first contact accessibility" and "first contact utilization" (2.8 and 8.1, respectively). The overall essential and general scores were 6.0 and 5.7, respectively. Having complete health teams, more community health workers, and a family and community medicine residency program had a positive effect on the general score (p<0.05). Overall, the public services analyzed in Fortaleza received a low performance rating from the adult service users.

Primary Health Care and Coordination of Care: device to increase access and improve quality

The objective of this article is to investigate the viewpoint of health professionals regarding the coordination of care in Primary Health Care (PHC) and the challenges for performing it. Qualitative research with professionals from two PHC teams working in territories with vulnerabilities and inequalities in Rio de Janeiro. Use of the Content Analysis method, thematic modality with semi-structured interviews and participant observation. To coordinate care is to be involved with the activities that foster the provision of individualized and comprehensive care, aiming at the care continuity. The challenges of coordinating care by the PHC are overcoming the network fragmentation, the low supply of openings for specialists, the fragile communication between the services, the non-integrated electronic medical record, the low professional qualification and the unawareness of the PHC role by other services. The strengthening of the PHC as the gateway, coordinator and organizer of the network requires efforts by managers, professionals and society, so this way of organizing the systems can bring benefits regarding equity, accessibility, clinical and sanitary effectiveness, economic efficiency and allow care integration.

Avaliação da coordenação do cuidado de usuários com tuberculose multidrogarresistente em Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

RESUMO Trata-se de um estudo avaliativo de corte transversal que objetivou avaliar a coordenação do cuidado entre níveis de atenção ao paciente com tuberculose multidrogarresistente em Recife, Pernambuco. A pesquisa foi realizada em três etapas: desenho do modelo lógico, elaboração da matriz de julgamento e análise normativa. Entrevistaram-se médicos e enfermeiros dos três níveis de atenção, bem como gestores do Programa de Controle da Tuberculose. Atribuiu-se pontuação a cada indicador da matriz de julgamento, sendo classificado como excelente (≥ 75,0%), bom (50,0-74,0%), ruim (49,0%-25,0%) ou crítico (< 25,0%). A coordenação do cuidado entre níveis de atenção foi considerada ruim (32,5%), assim como seus componentes coordenação administrativa (41,2%), da informação (32,0%) e da gestão clínica (31,0%). Percebeu-se que os níveis de atenção se organizam de forma separada, com falhas na interligação da rede de serviços, resultando na assistência descoordenada e fragmentada.

[Coordination of care and quality of healthcare for women and children in the PMAQ]

The study aimed to identify the association between coordination of care and quality of healthcare for women and children in primary healthcare in Brazil. A cross-sectional study was performed with data from 30,523 teams that participated in the Program for Improvement in Access and Quality of Basic Care (PMAQ) in 2013. Logistic regression was performed, in which the dependent variable was quality of healthcare for women and children and the independent variable was level of coordination of care. The multivariate analysis included variables that presented p < 0.05. The model's fit was assessed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The study assessed the results of 28,056 teams that conducted activities in coordination and healthcare for women and children simultaneously. In Brazil, the largest percentage of teams displayed low levels of coordination (68.5%). The highest levels of coordination were found in stratum 6 (57.2%) and the lowest in stratum 1 (78.5%). Among the major geographic regions, the North of Brazil showed the highest percentage of teams with low coordination (89.1%), while the Southeast had the most teams with high coordination (37.6%). More than two-thirds (70.5%) of the teams showed low quality of care in women's health, while 63.5% showed high level of care in children's health. High level of coordination is associated with high quality of care both in women's health (OR = 11.85) and children's health (OR = 8.79). The predominance of low levels of coordination of care in Brazil and low quality of healthcare for women reflect the need for coordinated action in this area.

Hospitalization of the aged due to stroke: An ecological perspective

Contextual variables have been associated with the incidence of stroke, but their association with hospitalization of older persons remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between social context variables and hospitalization of 60 years old and older patients due to stroke in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An ecological cross-sectional study was conducted, with secondary data from the Brazilian Hospital Information System from 2006 to 2014. Hospitalization rates were calculated and categorized by tertiles. For subsequent analyzes, the polar extremes method was used to select the groups with extremes values. After that, Student t or Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the contextual variables and the hospitalization rates clusters. Then, a Binary Logistic Regression analysis was used to assess the association between hospitalization rates clusters and the contextual variables. The total number of hospitalizations was 82 796; the hospitalization rate varied in extremes groups from the lowest (3.49) to the highest (11.95) (p<0.001). The highest rates group was positively associated with the proportion of elderly (p<0.001), the illiteracy rate of the aged (p = 0.01), primary care coverage (p<0.001) and ambulatory care for hypertension and diabetes, while the income ratio showed negative association with the highest rates of hospitalization (p = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, only the proportion of elderly (OR = 1.55; 95%CI 1.07–2.25), primary care coverage (OR = 1.05; 95%CI 1.01–1.11) and income ratio (OR = 0.82; 95%CI 0.67–0.99) maintained the association. In conclusion, contextual variables in the three dimensions studied were associated with the rate of hospitalization of aged due to stroke in the municipalities in Rio de Janeiro State. Transitional care and other improvements in both the health care and social services are demanded.

Regional governance arrangements of the Brazilian Unified National Health System: provider diversity and spacial inequality in service provision

The study analyzes regional Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS, in Portuguese) governance arrangements according to providers' legal sphere and the spacial provision of middle and high-complexity services. These arrangements express the way in which State and health system reforms promoted the redistribution of functions between governmental and private entities in the territory. We carried out an exploratory study based on national-scope secondary data from 2015-2016. Using cluster analysis based on the composition of the provision percentages of the main providers, we classified 438 health regions. In middle-complexity health care, municipal public providers (outpatient) and private philanthropic providers (hospital) predominate. In high complexity provision, philanthropic and for-profit providers (outpatient and hospital) predominate. Middle-complexity provision was recorded in all health regions. However, in 12 states, more than half of the provision is concentrated in only one health region. High-complexity provision is concentrated in state capital regions. Governance arrangements may be more or less diverse and unequal, if different segments and regional concentration levels of middle and high-complexity provision are considered. The study suggests that the convergence between decentralization and mercantilization favored re-scaling of service provision, with increase in the scale of participation of private providers and strengthening of reference municipalities. Governance arrangement characteristics challenge SUS regionalization guided by the collective needs of the population.

Percursos e obstáculos na Rede de Atenção à Saúde: trajetórias assistenciais de mulheres em região de saúde do Nordeste brasileiro

Resumo: O artigo tem como objetivo avaliar a organização e o acesso à Rede de Atenção à Saúde em uma região de saúde, na perspectiva das usuárias. Foram construídas trajetórias assistenciais de mulheres com lesão intraepitelial escamosa de alto grau do colo do útero, adscritas a diferentes modalidades de atenção primária à saúde (APS) de zonas urbana e rural, em municípios do interior e da sede de região de saúde do Nordeste do Brasil. As mulheres utilizavam a APS como serviço de busca regular para ações preventivas e assistenciais, mas reportaram barreiras de acesso para consultas médicas, sobretudo nas zonas rurais. Avaliações positivas foram vinculadas ao acolhimento e à representação da unidade básica de saúde/unidade de saúde da família (UBS/USF) como lócus disponível para cuidados. Percepção de baixa resolutividade da APS esteve ligada à demora para o agendamento das referências, abastecimento irregular/insuficiente de medicamentos e rotatividade de médicos. As mulheres indicaram dificuldade de acesso à atenção especializada, mais evidente nos municípios do interior da região, com utilização de serviços públicos e privados. Todas as usuárias da sede da região realizaram exames de confirmação diagnóstica e cirurgia pelo Sistema Único de Saúde. Apoio de familiares, amigos e políticos atravessaram as trajetórias assistenciais. Comunicação interprofissional foi quase inexistente e entre profissional/usuária, precária. A rede regionalizada apresentou-se desarticulada e com fluxos desordenados, não garantindo acesso oportuno às usuárias dos municípios do interior e apresentando dificuldades adicionais àquelas da área rural, mesmo no município sede, desvelando a incompletude dos arranjos regionais e a manutenção de desigualdades de acesso inter e intramunicipal.

What the elderly think of the care provided by health services

Abstract Objective: To identify the social representations of the elderly on the care provided in health services. Method: An exploratory study with a qualitative approach was carried out, in which 238 elderly persons were interviewed about the care they received in Basic Health Units and in a center of specialized care. Their discourse was recorded and transcribed in its entirety, and processed using Iramuteq software. The results were discussed using Social Representation Theory. Results: The elderly associated good care with being treated with respect, attentiveness and politeness; and, at the same time, the requesting of diagnostic exams, referrals to medical specialists and the prescription of medicines. In their imaginary, the Basic Health Unit hinders their access to specialized care and doctors in this service do not know enough to meet the needs of people of different age groups and health problems, meaning that consulting with a specialist becomes more important. In practice, they encounter difficulties related to delays in being attended to and obtaining appointments with specialists, diagnostic exams and with the first come, first served appointment system, which is further limited by the number of places and treatment of specific groups on certain days. Conclusion: The practices in the care provided to the elderly in health services need to be reviewed to offer humanized and qualified care that can meet their needs. Health professionals and managers should consider the different characteristics of the elderly when approaching care.

A atenção primária em regiões de saúde: política, estrutura e organização

Resumo: A atenção primária à saúde (APS) concebida como coordenadora do cuidado e ordenadora da rede regionalizada de atenção à saúde (RAS) é um dos condicionantes da dinâmica regional da saúde. O objetivo do artigo é identificar as dimensões política, de estrutura e de organização da APS em diferentes regiões do Brasil; assume-se que estas dimensões podem explicar, se não o todo, pelo menos parte importante do funcionamento da APS em cenário regional. Foram realizadas 84 entrevistas com atores-chave em cinco regiões de saúde. Essas regiões foram selecionadas com base na diversidade de situações socioeconômicas, territoriais e de organização do sistema de saúde. Apesar da heterogeneidade das RAS, notam-se traços comuns. Na dimensão da política, observou-se fragilidade na cooperação intergovernamental e no protagonismo da esfera estadual, além da incapacidade da Comissão Intergestores Bipartite em se configurar como espaço de planejamento e pactuação. Na dimensão estrutura ficou clara a insuficiência de condições que assegurem minimamente a execução de funções essenciais da APS. Pontos críticos são escassez, má distribuição e problemas de qualificação de recursos humanos, além do subfinanciamento das ações. Na dimensão organização são visíveis as dificuldades para se romper a fragmentação dos serviços. A APS não consegue assumir seu papel de coordenadora do cuidado, e observa-se a ausência de um modus operandi capaz de atender às necessidades dos usuários considerando as especificidades de cada região. A superação dos constrangimentos identificados é central para o fortalecimento do próprio SUS como sistema público, universal, equânime e integral.

Micropolítica da gestão e trabalho em saúde em um curso de Educação a Distância para gerentes da Atenção Primária à Saúde

RESUMO Esse artigo teve como objetivo apresentar a elaboração do Curso de Aperfeiçoamento em Gerência de Unidades Básicas de Saúde, Gestão da Clínica e do Cuidado, na modalidade Ensino a Distância (EaD). Para isso, o relato de experiência foi utilizado como método. O curso foi elaborado por docentes da Universidade Federal Fluminense a partir de demanda do Ministério da Saúde, entre os anos de 2016 e 2019, e adotou como base, na Proposta Político-Pedagógica (PPP), a micropolítica do trabalho. Para o alcance da PPP, foram criadas ou incorporadas algumas ferramentas, elaborado material didático pelos próprios docentes, construídas estratégias na formação dos tutores e alguns conceitos relacionados com o desenvolvimento da autonomia para a vida na construção da relação tutor-aluno. Concluiu-se que os alunos e alunas construíram atividades e trabalhos de conclusão que explicitaram atividades micropolíticas no processo de trabalho. Além disso, foi possível destacar que o fato de os membros da coordenação terem participado ativamente de todo o processo do curso, além de ter possibilitado educação permanente para cada um(a), favoreceu a construção e o fortalecimento da identidade institucional do curso, potencializou as ações e as intervenções pedagógicas de apoio aos tutores e facilitou alterações a partir das avaliações e das reavaliações.

Integration between Primary Health Care and Emergency Services in Brazil: Barriers and Facilitators

Introduction:

Characteristics of primary health care and emergency services may hamper their integration and, therefore, reduce the quality of care and the effectiveness of health systems. This study aims to identify and analyse policy, structural and organizational aspects of healthcare services that may affect the integration between primary health and emergency care networks.

Theory and Methods:

We conducted a qualitative research study based on grounded theory that included: (1) interviews with 30 health care leaders; and (2) documental analysis of the summaries of Regional Interagency Committee meetings from two regions in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Results:

The integration between primary health and emergency care network is inefficient. The barriers that contributed to this situation are as follows: (1) policy: the municipal health department is responsible for providing primary health care and the regional health department provides emergency care, but there is a lack of space for the integration of services; (2) structural: distinct criteria for planning mechanisms; and (3) organizational: ineffective point of interaction between different levels of the health system.

Conclusions and discussion:

Our findings have implications for health management and planning in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) with suggestions for interventions for overcoming the aforementioned barriers.

Coordenação do cuidado e Atenção Primária à Saúde no Sistema Único de Saúde

RESUMO Coordenação do cuidado significa estabelecer conexões de modo a alcançar o objetivo maior de prover/atender às necessidades e preferências dos usuários na oferta de cuidados em saúde, com elevado valor, qualidade e continuidade. O presente ensaio faz uma revisão dos estudos, teóricos e empíricos, sobre coordenação do cuidado, tendo como objetivo norteador a identificação de políticas, estratégias e instrumentos para alcance de melhor coordenação no Sistema Único de Saúde. A síntese é realizada a partir de três dimensões, consideradas centrais para análise desse atributo no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) brasileira: posição da Estratégia Saúde da Família na rede assistencial; integração entre níveis assistenciais e interfaces com a regulação assistencial; e integração horizontal com outros dispositivos de atenção e cuidado no território. Buscou-se identificar conceitos, evidências, resultados e desafios acerca da coordenação do cuidado no cenário nacional, assim como formular uma 'agenda estratégica pró-coordenação' que reconhece os avanços alcançados, mas também a incompletude dessas iniciativas. Na medida em que o fortalecimento da APS é uma das mais potentes medidas pró-coordenação, a diminuição de investimentos e de prioridade na Estratégia Saúde da Família representa o enfraquecimento da consolidação de arranjos sistêmicos, capazes de garantir a integralidade da atenção.

Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (Nasf): panorama nacional a partir de dados do PMAQ

RESUMO O Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (Nasf) foi criado em 2008 visando aumentar a resolutividade e o escopo das ações da Atenção Básica (AB). Composto por uma equipe multiprofissional deve desenvolver atividades conjuntas com as equipes AB, seguindo a lógica do apoio matricial e das ações técnico-pedagógicas ou clínico-assistenciais, pretendendo a integralidade do cuidado. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o trabalho do Nasf no território brasileiro, considerando a integração entre as equipes Nasf e AB, a partir de dados provenientes da avaliação externa do Programa Nacional para Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade (PMAQ) segundo ciclo. Os resultados encontrados apontam adequação quanto à infraestrutura, às atividades de apoio matricial e às atividades integradas com as equipes AB. Contudo, o monitoramento e análise de indicadores, a formação inicial e a educação permanente carecem de maior desenvolvimento.

Notes on persistent challenges for basic health care in Brazil

In recent decades, Brazil has witnessed a proposal to create an extensive basic health care network as the main portal of entry to a universal public health system. Based on the recognition of consistent strides in that direction, the article addresses four issues on some important challenges for the consolidation of the basic health care proposal: (1) the use of the term "basic health care" as opposed to the usual, hegemonic concept of "primary health care"; (2) the disconnect or mismatch between the policy's wording and its real-life implementation, underscoring the need for a review of the Brazilian National Basic Health Care Policy (PNAB), which centralizes and standardizes rules and routines for the entire country while overlooking Brazil's continental dimensions, heterogeneity, and wide local diversity; (3) the isolation of basic health care and its peripheral position in the health system, pointing to the need for more complex arrangements in the coordination of care, not left merely under the organization and responsibility of basic health care; and (4) the lack of health policymakers, administrators, and professionals who are prepared and aligned with a project aimed at transforming the country's prevailing health care model.

Care management of a patient with Devic's Disease in Primary Health Care

OBJECTIVE

Describing the care management of a patient affected by Devic's Disease in the Primary Health Care setting.

METHOD

A clinical-qualitative case study based on the health status of a Devic's Disease patient in a Health Center of the municipality of Florianópolis, accompanied by the Family Health Team. Data collection was carried out by electronic medical records, documents of the patient's domain, as well as a semi-structured interview with the participant. Ethical aspects of research involving human beings were respected.

RESULTS

The categories were defined according to relevance criteria with the purpose of reporting the case study, presenting a unique implemented therapeutic project and describing the patient's perception of her situation.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture and auriculotherapy were successfully performed, evidencing an improvement in the patient's pain, which may contribute to new possibilities of care. Despite this, not all the available care tools were implemented, considering the range of complementary care therapies that go beyond the medicinal approach.

HIV/AIDS care: analysis of actions and health services integration

Abstract Objective: To analyze the integration of actions and health services in care provided by Specialized Services (SS) in Ribeirão Preto/SP in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) perception. Methods: Exploratory descriptive study, survey type in which 253 PLWHA were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by indicators (classified as unsatisfactory-average from 1 to 2.5; regular-between 2.6 and 3.5; satisfying-3.6 to 5) and multiple correspondence analysis. Results: The integration of health care actions had an average 3.7 (SD = 1.7) classified as satisfactory. The horizontal integration was satisfactory regarding the use of medical records, and the vertical one regarding the referral to other health services. The low utilization of Basic Care and Emergency Care services was also identified. Conclusion: Despite of the satisfactory rating on the integration of assistance to PLWHA, challenges still be done, highlighting the need for greater empowerment of individuals and strengthening reference mechanisms with support of SCS to other points of attention in HIV/AIDS specificities.

Regionalização e Redes de Saúde

Resumo O artigo teve como objetivo refletir sobre os desafios da construção das Regiões e Redes de Saúde no Brasil. São elencados como desafios centrais para a constituição das Regiões e Redes de Saúde: o Modelo de Atenção, a Atenção Primária à Saúde, o Cuidado aos Usuários com Doenças Crônicas e a Assistência Hospitalar. Para a consolidação das Regiões e Redes é necessária a incorporação de um sentido ético da organização: a centralidade nas necessidades sociais, populacionais e individuais, derivadas da integralidade, dos direitos humanos e sociais, em amplas interações multiescalares e intersetoriais; com a constituição de uma inovação sistêmica regionalizada. É central a capacidade de divisar quais são os princípios gerais responsáveis por manter a unidade (o modo de atenção), buscando balizar a coerência dos diferentes modelos de provisão que o sistema pode desenvolver segundo as necessidades sociais em contextos regionais. Sem isso, os usuários continuarão a buscar e a criar maneiras de acessar os serviços de saúde que desafiam a racionalidade dos próprios serviços. É também necessária uma reforma hospitalar que integre e reoriente as redes. Essas ponderações são importantes para que o SUS mantenha seu projeto de solidariedade, expresso na tríade da universalidade-integralidade-equidade.

Avaliação do acesso à Estratégia Saúde da Família na perspectiva dos usuários no município de Santo Antônio de Jesus-Bahia, Brasil

Objetivo Evaluar el acceso a la Estrategia Salud de la Familia (ESF) en el municipio de Santo Antônio de Jesus-BA,en la perspectiva de los usuarios.Métodos Estudio transversal con aplicación de cuestionarios a una muestra representativa de 430 usuarios, registradospor los 21 equipos de Salud de la Familia del municipio. La encuesta de base domiciliaria se realizó entre losmeses de diciembre de 2012 a enero de 2013. Los indicadores considerados más potentes para evaluar el acceso, seseleccionaron en dos dimensiones: el conocimiento y la evaluación de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia.Resultados Los resultados apuntan la disminución de barreras y ampliación del acceso de la población a los servicios de salud, así como mayor organización de la puerta de entrada del sistema. Los cambios presentados después de la implantación de la ESF en los barrios se reflejan en la satisfacción de los usuarios, lo que legitima la organización del sistema de salud con base en una atención primaria integral.

Therapeutic itineraries for patients with cerebrovascular accident: fragmentation of care in a regionalized health network

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the itineraries of patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the Interstate health region in San Francisco Valley. Methods: this study uses the qualitative approach through the construction of Therapeutic Itineraries (IT). In the IT mapping the observation was prioritized on the different points and forms to access health service in search of care. Results: sixteen semi-structured interviews with healthcare users were conducted. There were diverse forms to access and provide services at the Rede Interestadual de Atenção à Saúde do Vale do Médio São Francisco-PEBA (Interstate Healthcare Network Region in the San Francisco Valley), which could be characterized by disorganized and uncoordinated care in the analyzed cases, despite the guarantee of hospital care. The Primary Health Care (APS) teams are present at a care point with most of the patients' itineraries, however, little integration to the regionalized network and they were unable to perform their functions and coordinate the care. It is observed pilgrimage assistance, fragmented care and difficulties in receiving care after post hospitalization which is essential for the patients’ rehabilitation. Conclusions: traces of fragments of the regional health system are important warning signs that points out fragility in PEBA and demonstrate persistent gaps in the public health system to fulfil the responsibility and guarantee individuals’ right for health.