Implementation research: network integration strategies in mental health in the city of Itatiba

• Grant number: 18/10366-6
• Support type: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• Duration: April 01, 2019 - March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal researcher: Rosana Teresa Onocko Campos
• Grantee: Rosana Teresa Onocko Campos
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Erotildes Maria Leal
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/14309-7 - Cross-cultural validation, dissemination and evaluation of the use of a tool to improve the quality of implementation research projects: ImpRes Tool-BR, BP.PD

Abstract

The low integration of health networks and the lack of professionals prepared to provide adequate care in mental health in primary care are important obstacles in overcoming the difference in mortality among people living with mental illness. As an alternative to deal with these obstacles international literature mentions the implementation of network integration strategies and the continuing training of professionals. In this sense, this project represent a joint proposal of the Laboratory Collective Health and Mental Health - Interfaces (Unicamp) and the Municipality of Itatiba-SP to carry out a implementation research of network integration strategies in order to qualify health care in the municipality. This research will make it possible to understand how predicted interventions work in "real world" settings, testing approaches to improve them. It should be emphasized that implementation research is pointed out in the international literature as feasible maker of a more effective public health policies and programs. The research will be conducted in three stages: pre-implementation, implementation and evaluation. Among the planned activities is the training of managers and workers for articulated work in network, as well as the training of tutors who will compose a committee in order to favor the sustainability of the proposal. The results related to the implementation will be evaluated by means of a research of the type survey, applied in two moments and through the comparison of secondary data about the operation of the network in the pre and post implementation phase. Between the main hypotheses to be tested are the reduction and / or qualification of referrals to specialized services; decrease in waiting time for use of services; increase in the number of mental health services in Primary Care and increase in the number of discharges of the specialized service with reference to Primary Care. An economic evaluation will also be carried out regarding the repercussions of the change in the mental health financing profile of the city, a fundamental aspect to study the effectiveness of public policies. (AU)