title: [Access, educational practice and empowerment of patients with chronic diseases].
abstract: Empowerment is a process whereby people achieve mastery over their lives, acquiring knowledge to make decisions about their health. Chronic diseases are increasingly common in the health service, requiring the attention of health professionals and empowering those affected by them. The scope of this study was to analyze the perceptions of users with chronic diseases and monitored by the Family Health Program with respect to empowerment. This was a qualitative study in which open interviews and systematic observations were conducted and NVIVO software was used for data analysis. Users indicate the existence of some geographical barriers in access to health, which caused fatigue, discouragement and low continuity of care. It was noted that adherence and practices of care were linked to differentiated service, based on trust and respect for the wishes of users. This includes healthcare guidance and education as key elements to encourage the practice of self-care. It is necessary to restructure the conduct of health professionals involved in the Family Health Strategy because its function is to promote health in a logical intersectoral and interdisciplinary manner.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Publica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Av. Paranjana 1700, Itaperi, 60740-000 Fortaleza CE, Brazil. patriciataddeo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Patricia da Silva
authors.initials: Pda S
authors.lastname: Taddeo
authors.forename: Kilma Wanderley Lopes
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caprara
authors.forename: Annatália Meneses de Amorim
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Giselle Cavalcante
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Thereza Maria Magalhães
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011209:Power, Psychological