The longitudinality of care from the perspective of Family Health users.
Anna Maria Meyer Maciel, Angelina Lettiere-Viana, Silvana Martins Mishima and 2 others
PMID 39283215WHAT IT FOUND
Family Health users described continuity as knowing a regular team, being seen by the same nurse or doctor, and having records and referrals followed.
They also reported appointment delays, missing medicines, and poor feedback from specialists.
Key findings
01Users linked continuity to a familiar team and to time with the same nurse or doctor, where personal and family concerns were heard.
02They also described self-care and social activities, including exercise, health checks, and unit gatherings, as ways they maintained health.
03They reported breaks in continuity when appointments were hard to get, medicines were unavailable, and specialist feedback did not clearly return.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed 18 users selected by community health workers from two teams in one municipality, so it reflects a specific local experience. Participants had to be adults who had been followed for at least five years, so users with shorter contact or weaker ties were not included. The sample was mostly women, retired or pensioned, and had low education, which limits transfer to men, younger people, and other groups. One nominated team refused because it was being restructured, and a community health worker from each team was away, leaving their micro-areas uncovered, so the teams studied may not represent usual staffing. The findings are users' subjective accounts of continuity and care organization, not measurements of health outcomes, adherence, or service performance.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that continuity improves health outcomes. This qualitative study describes users' experiences, not a tested intervention.