[Healthcare assessment for patients with diabetes and/or hypertension under the Family Health Program in Francisco Morato, São Paulo, Brazil].
The Brazilian Ministry of Health launched its Family Health Program (FHP) in 1994 as a new strategy aimed at reorganizing the healthcare system starting from the primary care level. The Program prioritizes delivery of care to groups identified as presenting increased risk, such as diabetic and hypertensive individuals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the care delivered to such patients by professionals in this program in the municipality of Francisco Morato, São Paulo, Brazil. A random cluster-based sample selected 84 patients with diabetes and/or hypertension who answered a questionnaire at home. Seventy-two patients responded. Of these, 19% were diabetic, 41.7% hypertensive, and 38.9% had both diabetes and hypertension. As for the care offered by the FHP, only 35.9% received excellent diagnostic workups and 10.9% excellent physical examinations. Some 20.8% of the patients reported illness-related complications. With the implementation of the FHP, access to care improved for both diabetic and hypertensive patients. The FHP proved to be a valid alternative to increase healthcare access, seeking to achieve greater equity by delivering care in accordance with the population's needs.
de Paiva
Daniela Cristina Profitti
DC
Núcleo de Investigação e Estudos em Epidemiologia, Instituto de Saúde, Rua Santo Antonio 590, São Paulo, SP 01314-000, Brazil.
Bersusa
Ana Aparecida Sanches
AA
Escuder
Maria Mercedes L
MM
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors