Challenges in the work process in the Family Health Strategy

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze the work process of the Family Health teams in the municipality of Caxias do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Methods: this is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research conducted in four Family Health Strategy (FHS) units, with the participation of 22 health professionals. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview and analyzed through the theme content analysis, aided by the Atlas.ti software. Results: the results were organized in three categories: (1) Roles, reality and idealization of working in the FHS, in which health prevention and curative practices appeared as the focus of the work process; (2) Elements of working in the FHS, which dealt with the purpose of the work connected to health prevention, related instruments, hard technologies and work object, in relation to professional specificities; and (3) Challenges and perspectives of working in the FHS, which emphasizes the fragilities, due to the shortage of professionals and the need for managerial improvement, as well as commitment and teamwork as potentialities. Conclusion: in the work process in health, the preventive professional actions with curative focus were predominant. The challenges were centered on redirecting the work process toward the Family Health approach.