The objective of this study was to analyze nursing consulting instruments used in attending leprosy patients and to identify their principle health care needs, as well as the proposed nursing actions. Thirty-seven service users participated in the study. Of these, 27 were undergoing poly-chemotherapy, and ten were receiving follow-up visits after medication. Data was collected from December, 2003 to December, 2006 by means of nursing consulting instruments - New Case and Follow-up Consultation, based on adaptations of Horta's nursing process. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis. It was concluded that the instrument was effective in identifying the needs of the various spheres which relate to the health-illness process, facilitating group interventions among the multi-professional team. This contributes to preventing aggravations, especially physical disabilities, leading to improvements in patients' health conditions as well as in these patients' and their relatives' health education.
Nursing processes; Leprosy; Nursing care; Primary health care
