Essential attributes of Primary Health Care: national results of PMAQ-AB

Abstract

The concept of a comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) and its quality can be evaluated by the  effectiveness of the following attributes: first contact service, longitudinality, comprehensiveness and coordination. The objective of this article is to analyze  the effectiveness of PHC attributes in team practice  from the perspective of professionals and users,  comparing the results of the National Program for  Access and Quality Improvement in Primary Health  Care (PMAQ-AB), between cycles 1 and 2. Quantitative study, with identification of the teams  participating in the two cycles and operationalization of the PHS  attributes through the selection of PMAQ-AB  variables relevant to each attribute. We compared  the national results of 12.680 Basic Health Units,  15.668 teams and 58.517 users. Some attributes  improved from cycle 1 to cycle 2. The best results  were first contact and comprehensiveness,  confirming the gradual constitution of the Basic  Health Units as an accessible first contact service, with a diversified scope of actions, although insufficient.  The attributes with worse evaluation were  longitudinality, with low continuity and quality of the  professional-patient relationship; and coordination,  due to difficulties of access to specialized care and  insufficient shared records.