Identifying needs and possible solutions: with the word, elderly people in Primary Health Care

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to understand the perception of elderly people about health care promoted by professionals from the Family Health Strategy and the Family Health Support Center in order to meet their needs. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative methodological approach, based on the perspective of users of Primary Health Care in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The focal group was used as a methodological resource, and the data were analyzed based on the Content Analysis method, in the thematic modality. The results were classified into three thematic units: (I) Need for good living conditions; (II) Need for access to health services; and (III) Possibilities to meet the needs listed. The realization of this research shows that the needs of the elderly, in the scenario studied, demand intersectoral actions. It also points out elements for a critical reflection on the importance of adopting strategies at the three levels of management to improve social determinants and reduce the health problems of these people.

摘要 本研究旨在了解老年人对家庭健康策略（Family Health Strategy）与家庭健康支持中心（Family Health Support Center）专业人员所提供的医疗照护的认知，以契合其实际需求。本研究为描述性研究，采用质性研究方法，研究对象为巴西北里奥格兰德州纳塔尔市初级卫生保健（Primary Health Care）的使用者。研究采用焦点小组访谈法作为资料收集方法，并以主题式内容分析法（Content Analysis）对资料进行分析。研究结果被划分为三个主题单元：（一）对良好生活条件的需求；（二）对获得医疗服务的需求；（三）满足上述所列需求的可行路径。本研究结果显示，在本次研究场景中，老年人的各类需求亟需跨部门行动予以响应。本研究同时提出了可供批判性反思的要点，即需在三级管理层面推行相关策略，以改善健康的社会决定因素，进而缓解该群体面临的健康问题。