Journal
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA
Volume 22, Issue 3, Pages 841-853Publisher
ABRASCO-ASSOC BRASILEIRA POS-GRADUACAO & SAUDE COLETIVA
DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232017223.26292015
Keywords
Patient care continuity; Primary Health Care; Community health services; Health
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Continuity of care, in addition to ensuring improvement of the quality of care, contributes to the reduction of health costs. The objective of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Evo (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from English and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identified in the different dimensions of the continuity of care - relational, management, information and some items of flexible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different dimensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and flexible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attended by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the dimensions of relational continuity.
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