Family health: strategy to change the basic care model, the health user social representation

Abstract

Basic care is to provide the universality and completeness health and has the Family Health Strategy (FHS) as a priority for the reorientation of the health care model. This study aims to analyze the social representations of health users about the FHS. This is a quantitative and qualitative research that was made in São Carlos city in 2007. The data collection was made through semi-structured interviews in three health unit with 30 health users. The software ALCESTE 4.5 was used to analyze the data. Four classes were built: Model focused on the disease; Search by specialists; Humanization of the care and Need for medical consultation. The analysis of the classes shows that the demand from health users is focused on treatment of diseases and medical consultation and health users define the care provided by the unit as good. The social representation of this group about FHS is identified as a unit of health care that provides a more welcoming treatment and with development of ties. The health users understand the ESF as a more humanized care, but still maintain the focus on the medical and health insurance. It is important to create spaces for conversation about the Family Health Strategy with the population as well as the development of the action of health promotion by the multidisciplinary team.