Trajectory of the user in the health system: performance of health services for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Ribeirão Preto (2009)

Author(s)

Maria Eugenia Firmino Brunello

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2013-02-25

Examining board members

Tereza Cristina Scatena Villa; Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio; Aline Aparecida Monroe; Lis Aparecida de Souza Neves; Antonio Ruffino Netto

• Advisor: Tereza Cristina Scatena Villa

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the trajectory of the user and the offer of actions in the health services for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). This is a descriptive, survey type study, held in the city of Ribeirão Preto. The subject group of the study was of 100 TB patients followed in five referenced clinics to the treatment of the disease during the period of data collection (June-December, 2009). Inclusion criteria was: being treated for TB, being a resident in the city of Ribeirão Preto, aged 18 or over, not being in prison system. Data collection was performed in two stages, the first being the interview with the TB patient, using a structured questionnaire that sought to track down the trajectory of patient from the moment they felt sick to the demand for the first health service and diagnosis of disease. The second stage involved the collection of secondary data in two information systems, namely: the TB-WEB, in which records relating to the patient were obtained and Hygia-WEB, to obtain information about health services and professionals who treated the patient, and also requested exams. Indicators related to health services performance for the diagnosis of TB were prepared, considering the categories of analysis: \"offer of actions in health services\", \"service flow from the first health service to diagnosis\" and \"solvability of cases in health care.\" Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques and the preparation of a scheme of the trajectory of the user in health services. The results showed that 69% of TB patients sought Emergency Care as the first health service and the Primary Care Unit was the one that diagnosed cases of the disease the least (2%). The findings indicated the preference of the users in the demand for Emergency Care, since 82% went at least once to this type of service until the diagnosis of TB. This fact has not ensured elucidation in the case with agility and speed, since the majority of patients were diagnosed in Specialized Services (90%). It was noted that sputum smear was applied to 55.9% of users who tried the Specialized Services and the doctor was the professional who most served in the health services that were sought, especially in Emergency Care (98.8%). The average time to diagnosis was similar among those who first sought the Primary Care Unit and the Emergency Care, being each one 33.5 and 33.0 days. The average number of times a user searched for a health service was higher among those who went to Primary Care Unit as a first contact (5.5 times). The results imply that the local health system must be organized with backup and team prepared for the different levels of care in order to determine at the shortest time the diagnosis of the disease. (AU)