[Analysis of conditions for the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases in primary health care in the city of Sorocaba-SP]

Abstract

Objectives: The study had as main goal to define the profile of the attending professional working at the primary healthcare sector in the city of Sorocaba, and to analyze the environment in which this professional is inserted, trying to identify if there are conditions for the care of low-complexity rheumatic diseases and possible reasons that would lead to a high degree of referral to specialists.

Methods: A quantitative study was performed in which physicians of primary health care were invited to answer a questionnaire that addressed personal aspects, besides the technical aspects of four rheumatic diseases: osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis, which served as the basis for evaluating the care for low-complexity diseases in UBSs.

Results: It was observed that the professional is part integral of an organizational system that hinders his/her performance; moreover, certain personal difficulty techniques were realized. Together, these conditions turned out to be the factors that determine a quality of care that falls short of that expected.

Conclusion: There must be a review of how medical education is offered, in order to seek a more qualified training, focused on the basic needs of the health system, as well as a restructuring of the entire health system in terms of its organization and management, in order to attain a suitable condition for the development of a good medical practice, and thus, for providing a good service to the community.

Keywords: Atenção primária de saúde; Continuing medical education; Doenças reumáticas; Educação médica continuada; Primary health care; Rheumatic diseases.