Brazilian community health agents and qualitative primary healthcare information.

Autor: Zanchetta MS; 1Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Faculty of Community Services,Ryerson University,Toronto,Canada., Pinto RM; 2School of Social Work,Columbia University,New York,USA., Galhego-Garcia W; 3Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry of Araçatuba,Estadual Paulista University,Araçatuba,São Paulo,Brazil., da Cunha Z; 4Masters in Family Health Program,Estácio de Sá University,Rio de Janeiro,RJ,Brazil., Cordeiro HA; 5Masters in Family Health Program,Estácio de Sá University,Rio de Janeiro,RJ,Brazil., Fagundes-Filho FE; 6Independent Researcher,Toronto,Canada., Pinho MA; 7Souza Marques Tecno-Educational Foundation & Adolescentro Paulo Freire (Municipal Secretary of Healht and Civil Defense of Rio de Janeiro),Rio de Janeiro,Brazil., Voet SM; 6Independent Researcher,Toronto,Canada., Talbot Y; 8Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dala Lana School of Public Health,Health Policy Management and Evaluation,University of Toronto,Toronto,Canada., Caldas RS; 9Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry of Araçatuba,Estadual Paulista University,Araçatuba,São Paulo,Brazil., de Souza TJ; 9Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry of Araçatuba,Estadual Paulista University,Araçatuba,São Paulo,Brazil., Costa E; 9Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry of Araçatuba,Estadual Paulista University,Araçatuba,São Paulo,Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Primary health care research & development [Prim Health Care Res Dev] 2015 May; Vol. 16 (3), pp. 235-45. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Apr 25.
DOI: 10.1017/S146342361400019X
Abstrakt: Aim: The aim of this study was to explore female community health agents' views about the value of recording qualitative information on contextual health issues they observe during home visits, data that are not officially required to be documented for the Brazilian System of Primary Healthcare Information.
Background: The study was conducted in community primary healthcare centres located in the cities of Araçatuba and Coroados (state of São Paulo) and Rio de Janeiro (state of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil.
Methods: The design was a qualitative, exploratory study. The purposeful sampling criteria were being female, with a minimum of three years of continuous service in the same location. Data collection with 62 participants was conducted via 11 focus groups (in 2007 and 2008). Audio files were transcribed and submitted to the method of thematic analysis. Four themes guided the analysis: working with qualitative information and undocumented observation; reflecting on qualitative information; integrating/analysing quantitative and qualitative information; and information-sharing with agents and family health teams. In 2010, 25 community health agents verified the final interpretation of the findings.
Findings: Participants valued the recording of qualitative, contextual information to expand understanding of primary healthcare issues and as an indicator of clients' improved health behaviour and health literacy. While participants initiated the recording of additional health information, they generally did not inform the family health team about these findings. They perceived that team members devalued this type of information by considering it a reflection of the clientele's social conditions or problems beyond the scope of medical concerns. Documentation of qualitative evidence can account for the effectiveness of health education in two ways: by improving preventative care, and by amplifying the voices of underprivileged clients who live in poverty to ensure the most appropriate and best quality primary healthcare for them.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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