Even without a coordinating role in the health care network, the delivery of primary health care through teams was positively evaluated in Portugal as promoting increased access, continuity, and humanization of health services.

Objetivou-se investigar os limites e as potencialidades das diretrizes gerais das gestões da Atenção Básica das capitais brasileiras para o apoio institucional. O estudo é descritivo, exploratório, qualitativo, realizado de fevereiro a outubro de 2014, a partir do módulo IV do Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica. Incluíram-se 22 formulários de gestão de capitais brasileiras analisados com o software Atlas ti.7.1 e análise de conteúdo. Nas capitais brasileiras, as condições de gerir os processos para a institucionalização do apoio não é uma realidade predominante. Conclui-se que essas gestões precisam ser apoiadas na condução desses processos.

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This research aims at describing the professional practices of Primary Health Care teams regarding rapid tests for STDs. It follows a descriptive study under a quantitative approach; participants include 18 municipalities, 94 Basic Health Units, and 100 staff teams working on Family Health Strategies. The sample was composed of the managers and the staff members directly involved in the testing, while the variables included adhesion to the tests and factors regarding the testing process. Data collection was performed in loco through a semi-structured instrument. Rapid tests were offered by 93% of the teams, 78.5% offering the tests to any users. In 89.2% of the staff teams, the nurse was solely responsible for collecting tests; 55.9% of members did not feel confident about reporting on a positive result, while 63.1% of those who considered the community health agent the main form of outreach assessed their performance as inadequate. Treatment against syphilis accounts for 50.5%. There is fair adhesion to testing by part of the staff teams; the focus on the nurse, however, leads to an increase in their workload, highlighting their protagonism, leading to a reflection on professional practices and paving the way for different realities to be further investigated

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico dos casos de sífilis em um município do Rio Grande do Norte. Métodos: Estudo descritivo documental com os casos notificados entre 2013 e 2017. Resultados: Os achados foram analisados de acordo com quatro grupos, sendo eles; Completude e consistência: 59,6% das notificações estavam com o item “bairro” em branco, em 21% a variável “gestante” estava inconsistente; Sífilis adquirida, gestacional e congênita: 91% das notificações foram oriundas das Unidades Básicas de Saúde, 59,6% ocorreram na zona urbana; Sífilis adquirida e gestacional: idade entre 13 e 82 anos, 27,4% dos casos tinha o item escolaridade como “ignorado”; Sífilis gestacional: 40% dos diagnósticos ocorreram no 1º trimestre, 13,3% dos parceiros foram tratados. Conclusão: A incidência apresentou valores crescentes nos anos de estudo seguindo o panorama nacional.

Realização do teste rápido para infecções sexualmente transmissíveis pela atenção primária à saúde Applying rapid test for sexually transmitted diseases by primary health care

Background The application of cell phones, similar portable devices (ie, tablets), apps, the internet, and GPS in evaluation have established new ways of collecting, storing, retrieving, transmitting, and processing data or information. However, evidence is incipient as to which technological resources remain at the center of assessment practice and the factors that promote their use by the assessment community. Objective This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the use of the National Program for Improving Primary Healthcare Access and Quality’s (PMAQ-AB; Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica) mobile app and management system and the external evaluation quality of Brazil’s PMAQ-AB. Methods We conducted a qualitative case study during the external evaluation of Brazil’s PMAQ-AB. Data collection consisted of interviews, focus groups, and document analysis. A total of 7 members from the Department of Primary Care of the Ministry of Health and 47 researchers from various higher education and research institutions across the country participated in the study. Data were categorized using the ATLAS.ti software program, according to the quality standards of the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, following the content analysis approach by Bardin. Results The results related to feasibility, thematic scope, field activity management, standardized data collection, data consistency, and transparency. They demonstrated improvements and opportunities for advancements in evaluation mediated by the use of information technology (IT), favored the emergence of new practices and remodeling of existing ones, and took into account the multiple components required by the complex assessment of access and quality in primary health care. Difficulties in technology operation, inoperative systems, and lack of investment in equipment and human resources posed challenges to increasing the effectiveness of IT in evaluation. Conclusions The use of technology-based tools—the app and the management system—during the external evaluation offered evaluators a greater opportunity for stakeholder engagement. This also allowed the insertion of different organizational, operational, and methodological components that are capable of triggering influences and confluences. In addition, this allowed connections in collaborative and synergistic networks to increase the quality and allow the development of a more consistent and efficient evaluation process with greater possibility of incorporating the results into public health policies.

Background: Considering advancements in information technology for disseminating results of evaluations, it is essential to demonstrate the functionalities and performance of these practices in order to achieve the objectives established by the evaluation proponents. This study aimed to evaluate the use of information technology for disseminating results obtained from the Primary Health Care evaluation in Brazil. Methods: A qualitative single-case study was performed with triangulation of techniques and key informants. Analyses of public documents and field research were conducted. Convenience sample of 54 participants (seven from the Department of Primary Care/Ministry of Health and 47 from teaching and research institutions) was selected from the external evaluation team. Content analysis was performed, and the Atlas ti.8.4.24 software organized, managed, and categorized textual data. Codification was performed by peers (three researchers) while experts validated codes (two researchers). Right after, codes were extracted and categorized.Results: Dissemination of results is complex due to multiple components. Incorporation also favored advances in data observation and implementation of data openness, becoming available for professionals, policymakers, and universities. Challenges regarding delivery time of reports, access restriction, lack of interest, and digital skills influenced reaching expected goals of the proponent.Conclusion: Information technology for disseminating results of evaluations may improve performance of health teams and managers and redefine priorities of work processes to strengthen Primary Health Care. Emphasis in planning, technological infrastructure, digital inclusion, and policy decision making is recommended to disseminate data effectively to the population.