[Case-resolving capacity of health care services according to a household survey: users' perceptions].
The objective of this study was to identify the case-resolving capacity of health care services used by individuals who reported a health problem within two weeks prior to the interview and to unveil their respective perceptions of the solution to the problem. Data were obtained from a household morbidity survey including 10,199 interviewees, performed in the southwestern area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1989/1990. Some health problem was reported by 31.3% of interviewees, and 47.7% sought help to solve their problem. Primary health services were the main gateway into the health system (35.7%), followed by hospitals (25.4%), and outpatient clinics (24.3%). The case-resolving capacity in the medical services was greater than 90%; 44.5% had their problem solved, 35.5% were under treatment, and 10.5% reported that their problem had not been solved. The largest proportion of problems solved belonged to respiratory and digestive system, infectious and parasitic diseases, and ill-defined symptoms, signs, and conditions. Due to the large proportion of individuals still in treatment, this study does not allow one to conclude that the health care services had a high case-resolving capacity, although they were capable of handling the patient demand.
Turrini
Ruth Natalia Teresa
RN
Departamento de Enfermagem Médico Cirúrgica, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. rturrini@usp.br
Lebrão
Maria Lúcia
ML
Cesar
Chester Luiz Galvão
CL
D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception