Analysis of an instrument for primary health care monitoring

Abstract

Objective: To analyze an instrument for monitoring primary care. Methods: Qualitative, descriptive, and analytic research that consisted in the application of the instrument in 442 Basic Health Units - PCC from Sao Paulo city with the participation of local managers in its elaboration; the instrument is composed of 47 aspects that contemplated indicators of Structure, Process, and Result and we organized them in six thematic blocks: I - welcoming technical reception - WTR (reception); II - nursing work; III - medical work; IV - assistance organization and team integration; V - vaccination and program coverage; VI - management and participation. For the statistical analysis, we utilized the SPSS 25.0 program. Results: The average and median scores obtained by the 414 evaluated Primary Care Centers (total of 470 possible points) were 356 and 380, respectively. Through the multivariate modeling, nine aspects of Structure and Processes stood out, when analyzed concerning the aspects of the Result, presenting statistical association (p<0.05): WTR carried out in every period of Primary Care Centers; specific training for the care in WTR; nurse clinical performance; systematized medical rearguard for WTR; complete oral health team; reserved time for team meeting; group appointment carried out systematically; health promotion actions; adequate physical accommodations. Conclusion: The instrument presented the capacity to capture different stages of the organization and the results of the participant units of this study, and, besides a global evaluation, it revealed critical questions of the services related to the intended changes. As an evaluative tool for the services, it may contribute to the monitoring and the support to the everyday techno-management decision making.