Permanent Education Strategies in the Evaluation of Family Health Teams: a Systematic Review

Abstract:

The Program for Primary Care Access and Quality Improvement, implemented by the Ministry of Health, aims to ensure the improvement of access and quality of services offered by Primary Care. This strategy aims to promote work process and health care improvements based on the induction, monitoring and evaluation of processes and results to be achieved by the Family Health Strategy teams. In this context, one of its most potent tools is permanent health education, which aims to promote changes in care practices, management, education and participation. This article aims to describe the Permanent Health Education strategies used in the evaluation process of family health teams, aiming at improving the quality of care. This is a systematic review, aimed at answering the following research question: “What strategies should be included within the scope of family health teams to consolidate the evaluation processes promoted by the National Program for Primary Care Access and Quality Improvement, focusing on Permanent Health Education?”. In summary, the articles selected for this review depict the experiences regarding the evaluation of the National Program for Primary Care Access and Quality Improvement, the actions related to Permanent Health Education included in the work process of family health teams and the degree of incorporation of information and communication technologies into primary care. There is still evidence on the use of formative and verticalized educational practices that do not take into account the needs of the territory or the demands of professionals in the health care daily work. The review demonstrates the existence of a knowledge gap that portrays continuing education strategies for the effectiveness of the evaluation process promoted by the Program for Primary Care Access and Quality Improvement.

Key-words:
Family Health Strategy; Primary Health Care; Continuing Education; Health Evaluation; Quality Management