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Activities of speech-language-hearing therapists in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center from the perspective of team cooperation

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

to describe the activities of speech-language-hearing therapists in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center from the perspective of team cooperation.

Methods:

an exploratory study with a quantitative and qualitative approach. The participants in the research were 4 speech-language-hearing therapists and 3 speech-language-hearing residents who were developing their practices in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center of Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brazil. The data were collected at two moments: The first one involved the analysis of the instrument where the activities of the speech-language-hearing therapists in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center were registered; in the second one, these professionals were interviewed to understand their work process in PHC, in relation to team cooperation.

Results:

the speech-language-hearing therapists presented an adequate understanding of the concept of team cooperation and the broad range of activities carried out, predominantly individual attention (27%) and shared group activities (18%). The need to strengthen their professional training to work with primary care and the little knowledge of the teams and population about the work of the speech-language-hearing therapists are the main challenges reported by the interviewees. To improve the work of the teams, they suggested more continuing education opportunities and more participation of the administrators in interpersonal conflict mediation.

Conclusion:

despite the difficulties related to professional education and the work process, the speech-language-hearing therapists in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center have been performing activities from the perspective of team cooperation, collaborating to the comprehensiveness and solvability of care.

Descriptors:
SUS; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Primary Health Care; Family Health; Public Health

RESUMO

Objetivo:

descrever as atividades do fonoaudiólogo do Núcleo Ampliado de Saúde da Família e Atenção Primária na perspectiva do apoio matricial.

Métodos:

trata-se de um estudo exploratório com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. Participaram da pesquisa 4 fonoaudiólogas e 3 residentes fonoaudiólogas que desenvolviam suas práticas no NASF-AP de Vitoria de Santo Antão. A coleta de dados foi realizada em dois momentos: No primeiro foi realizada análise do instrumento de registro de atividades dos fonoaudiólogos do NASF - AP; no segundo momento foram realizadas entrevistas com estes profissionais, com o intuito de compreender o processo de trabalho do fonoaudiólogo inserido na APS, no que diz respeito ao matriciamento.

Resultados:

foi possível observar que os fonoaudiólogos apresentam adequada compreensão sobre o conceito de apoio matricial e amplo escopo de atividades realizadas, com predomínio de atendimentos individuais (27%) e atividades coletivas compartilhadas (18%). A necessidade de fortalecer a formação dos profissionais para atuar na atenção básica e o pouco conhecimento das equipes e população sobre atuação do fonoaudiólogo são os principais desafios relatados pelos entrevistados. Para melhorar a atuação das equipes, foi sugerido mais educação permanente e participação da gestão na mediação dos conflitos interpessoais.

Conclusão:

mesmo existindo dificuldades relacionadas à formação acadêmica e ao processo de trabalho, o fonoaudiólogo inserido no NASF-AP tem realizado atividades na perspectiva do apoio matricial e colaborado para integralidade e resolutividade do cuidado.

Descritores:
SUS; Fonoaudiologia; Atenção Primária a Saúde; Saúde da Família; Saúde Coletiva

Introduction

The objective of the Extended Family Health Care Center (NASF, its Portuguese acronym), created by the Ministry of Health in 2008, was to give support to the Family Health Strategy and broaden the solvability and coverage of primary health care (PHC) in Brazil. The guidelines with which the teams worked were based on overcoming the fragmented health care mindset, striving instead for comprehensive health care for the population that used the health system11. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 154/GM, de 24 de janeiro de 2008. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2008/prt0154_24_ 01_2008.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis...
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The NASF is characterized by a multiprofessional team that may include, among others, speech-language-hearing therapists, nutritionists, physical therapists, psychologists, physical educators, and veterinarians. The team’s makeup is defined by the municipal administrator and depends on various factors, such as the needs of the populations and the availability of professionals11. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 154/GM, de 24 de janeiro de 2008. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2008/prt0154_24_ 01_2008.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis...
,22. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.436, de 21 de setembro de 2017. Disponível em: http://www.brasilsus.com.br/index.php/legislacoes/gabinete-do-ministro/16247-portaria-n-2-436-de-21-de-setembro-de-2017. Aprova a Política Nacional de Atenção Básica, estabelecendo a revisão de diretrizes para a organização da Atenção Básica, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Brasília, DF: Ministério da Saúde, 2017. [internet]. [acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018..

In recent years, the NASF has been going through some changes. In September 2017, the new National Primary Health Care Policy (PNAB) revised the guidelines that organized PHC, included other modalities of PHC teams to be supported by the NASF, and changed its name to Extended Family Health and Basic Care Center (NASF-AB)22. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.436, de 21 de setembro de 2017. Disponível em: http://www.brasilsus.com.br/index.php/legislacoes/gabinete-do-ministro/16247-portaria-n-2-436-de-21-de-setembro-de-2017. Aprova a Política Nacional de Atenção Básica, estabelecendo a revisão de diretrizes para a organização da Atenção Básica, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Brasília, DF: Ministério da Saúde, 2017. [internet]. [acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.,33. Melo EA, Mendonça MHM, Oliveira JR, Andrade GCL. Changes in the National Policy of Primary Health Care: between setbacks and challenges. Saúde Debate. 2018;42(número especial 1):38-51.. In November 2019, The Ministry of Health approved Regulation no. 2,979 to institute the program Previne Brasil (Prevention Brazil), which establishes the new model to pay for the costs of the PHC and extinguishes the specific resource for the NASF-AB teams. In February 2020, the Ministry of Health promulgated a new regulation, changing again its name to Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center (NASF-AP); it also excluded the description of the types of teams involved in it and the number of Family Health Teams they should support44. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.979, de 12 de novembro de 2019. Disponível em: http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-n-2.979-de-12-de-novembro-de-2019-227652180. Acesso em: 27 de Abr. 2019.
http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portar...
,55. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 99, de 7 de fevereiro de 2020. Disponível em: http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-n-99-de-7-de-fevereiro-de-2020-242574079. Acesso em: 27 de Abr. 2020.
http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portar...
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The NASF-AP, as a multiprofessional team, can offer support to the Family Health Strategy in health promotion and injury prevention. The speech-language-hearing therapist belonging to this team can help identify factors that lead to changes that might affect human communication health, with health promotion and prevention, and thus help maintain the quality of life66. Soleman C, Martins CL. The work of speech therapists under Support Centers for Family Health (NASF) - specificities of Primary Care. Rev. CEFAC. 2015;17(4):1241-53.,77. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.488, de 21 de outubro de 2011. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2011/prt2488_21 _10_2011.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
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The cooperation between teams has been a useful tool in various care contexts, including the NASF-AP teams, to organize the teams’ work process and ensure the integration of the various categories. This tool, considered a health care administration methodology as well, was first incorporated in the mental health services. The team cooperation aims to provide specialized support to the teams responsible for the attention to health problems of a given population. It can be implemented based on two dimensions, namely: the assistance, providing direct clinical action with the user, and the technical-pedagogical, providing educative support actions, with and for the reference teams, increasing the intervention possibilities88. Barbosa EG, Ferreira DLS, Furbino SAR, Ribeiro EEN. Physiotherapy experience on Family Health Support Center in Governador Valadares, MG. Fisio Mov. 2010;23(2):323-30.,99. Santos MC, Frauches MB, Rodrigues SM, Fernandes ET. The work process at the Family Health Support Center (FHSC): the importance of professional qualification l. Sau. & Transf. Soc. 2017;(2):60-6..

Considering that until recently the work of the speech-language-hearing therapists focused only on the medium- and high-complexity services and understanding the importance of their work in PHC, it is necessary to carry out scientific studies on these professionals’ work process in the context of PHC. The analysis of local circumstances, based on the theoretical-methodological reference proposed for the work of the NASF-AP teams, can help develop a basis to strengthen the quality of health care in this assistance level, as well as the training of health professionals, such as the speech-language-hearing therapists1010. Fernandes TL, Nascimento CMB, Sousa FOS. Analyzing the functions of speech therapists of NASF in Recife Metropolitan Region. Rev. CEFAC. 2013;15(1):153-9.. This study aimed to analyze the work of the speech-language-hearing therapist in the NASF-AP, from the perspective of team cooperation.

Methods

This research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Federal University of Pernambuco), Brazil, under protocol no. 141007/2019. The professionals that participated in the research signed the informed consent form, which provided important information about the study.

This is an exploratory study with both a quantitative and qualitative approach. The research was conducted in the municipality of Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil, at the community health centers where the NASF-AP work. This municipality counts with five NASF-AP teams who give support to 35 Family Health Teams. Four speech-language-hearing therapists who belonged to the NASF-AP participated in the research, as well as three speech-language-hearing residents who developed their practices in that same service. The speech-language-hearing therapists hired by the Municipal Department of Health are identified in the text as T1, T2, T3, and T4. The residents are named R1, R2, and R3.

The data were collected at two moments. In the first one, the document that registered the activities of the speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF-AP was analyzed, with variables related to the types of practice developed at the workplace, such as individual and shared attention, group activities, home visits, and so forth. In the analysis, the activities were characterized according to the dimensions of team cooperation, namely: The technical-pedagogical, more related to educative support with the reference teams, and the assistance dimension, characterized by the direct clinical action with the users. The results are presented in a bar chart, showing the activities carried out by the speech-language-hearing therapists.

At the second moment, the speech-language-hearing therapists were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire about their professional education, work in PHC, potentials of the speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF-AP, their understanding of team cooperation, and difficulties faced in the work routine in PHC. The interviews were digitally recorded, then transcribed and submitted to successive readings and Bardin’s content analysis. It is important to highlight that the saturation criterion was not necessary because all the speech-language-hearing therapists that worked in the NASF-AP of the said municipality participated in the study.

In the data analysis, the words of the interviewees were systematized per theme categories, based on the core meanings that made up communication - which, depending on the presence or frequency, may have some meaning to the analytical objective1111. Bardin L. Análise do Conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70; 1977.. This content analysis method comprises three major stages: 1) Pre-analysis, consisting of the reading and re-reading of the material collected in the interviews; 2) Exploration of the material, which defines the rules to count and classify the information into categories; 3) Treatment of the results and interpretation, aiming to assimilate the content expressed in the words of the professionals that participated in the study1212. Caregnato RCA, Mutti R. Qualitative research: discourse analysis versus content analysis Investigación cualitativa: análisis del discurso versus análisis del contenido. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2006;15(4):679-84..

Results

Regarding the profile of the speech-language-hearing therapists who participated in the research, most of them were 20 to 35 years old, and all of them were females, with less than 5 years’ experience at the NASF-AP; three had just graduated (health residents).

Most of the activities - approximately 27% - carried out by the speech-language-hearing therapists at the NASF-AP were individual attention, followed by shared activities (18%), and team meetings (15%) (Figure 1).

Figure 1:
Chart of the types of activities carried out by the speech-language-hearing therapists in the Extended Family Health and Primary Care Center

In the interview content analysis, six theme categories came up: professional education, speech-language-hearing therapists’ work in PHC, challenges of the speech-language-hearing therapists in PHC, solvability of the speech-language-hearing therapists in PHC, their understanding of team cooperation, and suggestions to strengthen the work process in the NASF-AP.

Professional Education

This category identified aspects related to the role of professional education in the development of professional skills for the speech-language-hearing therapist to work in PHC.

"I took only one course on primary care, and I had only one internship in public health throughout my undergraduate program..." (R3)

"Throughout my training, from beginning to end, I had several courses on public health, including the required internships. In them, we were given the opportunity - which I took - to participate in the Health Practical Training Program, in which I observed the work at the NASF..." (R2)

"When I graduated, we were not prepared for this - the NASF did not even exist back then. So, when I started working here, I did a lot of research and reading..." (T2).

Speech-language-hearing Therapists’ Work in PHC

As for the work carried out by speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF-AP, a variety of activities was identified, encompassing promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation for individuals and groups.

"We’re in the community, we can screen the population and give them satisfactory and effective guidelines. If they’re not, we can refer them faster to a more specialized service... It’s a quite broad field in primary care, in which we can provide attention and instruction, from newborns to older adults..." (R3)

"It’s divided into individual and group activities. The group activities are for team meetings, cooperation meetings. The attention is given both individually and shared with another professional. There are also home visits and actions involving different sectors..." (R1)

"The work, not only of the speech-language-hearing therapist but also of the whole NASF team, includes team meetings and cooperation. These are the tools that the Ministry of Health aims for, right? There are also the home visits and technical instructions, and the work process goes on that path..." (T3)

A broad field of work was identified in the speech-language-hearing therapists’ words, ranging from health promotion and prevention to attention and rehabilitation. The diversity of activities listed by the professionals encompass the technical-pedagogical and technical-assistance dimensions of team cooperation - although the latter evidently predominated.

Challenges of the Speech-language-hearing Therapists in PHC

The challenges identified are related to the difficulty, on the part of the professionals of the Family Health Strategy and the population, to understand the role of the work carried out by the NASF-AP team. Many professionals of other fields of knowledge also have difficulties perceiving the possibilities in the work of speech-language-hearing therapists - which consequently decreases their opportunities and often makes them uncomfortable.

"The family health team doesn’t understand our work process, which makes the relationship rough sometimes..." (R1).

"The population and the very strategy team don’t know what the work of the NASF is. They see the NASF team aimed more at outpatient care, and then pass this idea on to the community. So, the people often come and say: ‘Oh, I didn’t know there was a speech-language-hearing therapist here; now I want to bring my son here for treatment, it’s closer to my home...’ Then we have to help them understand that this is not our objective, that we’re here to give support, that the team is meant to give support to the Family Health Center..." (T4).

"Some professionals want to depreciate our profession; they don’t know it and say they’re not from the field of speech-language-hearing therapy. Then, we get stressed, trying to explain, restate the skills of the speech-language-hearing therapists... They have a quite narrow idea of what our profession is; for them, it’s only speech, stuttering, and hearing..." (R3).

Solvability of the Speech-language-hearing Therapists in PHC

It was observed that the great potential of the speech-language-hearing therapists in PHC is to detect and solve human communication disorders at the first health care level, besides interacting with other professions, strengthening the comprehensive care of people in the community.

"The speech-language-hearing therapist, along with the other professionals who make up the NASF team, aims at comprehensive care for the users. Since these therapists deal with communication disorders, their presence in the NASF team is extremely important because they will work in rehabilitation, mental health, child health. Since primary care is the users’ entry point into the public health system, some problems can be solved there..." (R2).

"Since I began here until now, I’m more and more in love with it because I see our importance in primary care. In NASF, our dialogue dynamics between centers, our involvement with physical therapy and social work, the home visits. We can detect pathologies related to our field, solving some cases, promoting groups in the health center..." (T1).

Understanding of Team Cooperation

The speech-language-hearing therapists understand team cooperation as a strategy to organize the teamwork and strengthen the link between teams that work with primary care.

"It’s our main tool, it’s what guides all our work..." (R3).

"I understand team cooperation as a strategy to organize the health work that took place thanks to this integration between the NASF team and the Family Health Team..." (R2).

"Team cooperation is exactly this, the NASF team drawing near the Family Health Team in this support, this guideline, this partnership..." (T2).

Suggestions to Strengthen the Work Process in the NASF-AP

From the professionals’ standpoint, it is necessary to strengthen the work process of the NASF-AP teams. To achieve such a goal, they believe there should be more investments in the practical continuing education of the professionals who work in PHC.

It was also suggested that administrators participate more in conflict mediation between the teams. Speech-language-hearing therapists believe that some problems related to the work process could be solved if the administration drew closer to the workers.

"It’s essential to reinforce the practical continuing education and use this setting to present the work of a speech-language-hearing therapist, how the NASF works because it’s still a critical dilemma - practical continuing education with the professionals to explain what the work at NASF is because they sometimes have a strong bias, seeing it as an essentially outpatient care..." (R3).

"More opportunities for the Strategy and the NASF to meet and discuss, speak, promote continuing education..." (T1).

"I would suggest that the administration be strengthened and that they give more attention because I see that many of the problems could be solved by the administration..." (T3).

"I really think the administration could invest more in the professionals’ training..." (R2).

Discussion

Professional education is the basis for every worker to carry out their profession. The pedagogical framework in the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences has been going through changes for some years in the effort to adjust it to the demands with which the profession has been dealing in recent years. Speech-language-hearing therapy is increasingly growing within public health; hence, the undergraduate programs have felt the need to train professionals to work in this field. However, some programs are not prepared yet to train professionals with a generalized look with which to join public health66. Soleman C, Martins CL. The work of speech therapists under Support Centers for Family Health (NASF) - specificities of Primary Care. Rev. CEFAC. 2015;17(4):1241-53.,1313. Nardi V, Cardoso C, Araújo RPC. Formação academic-profissional dos docentes fonoaudiólogos do estado da Bahia. Rev. CEFAC. 2012;14(6):1122-38.

14. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Programa Nacional de Reorientação da Formação Profissional em Saúde PRÓ-SAÚDE. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde: 2007.
-1515. Nascimento DDG, Oliveira MAC. Reflexões sobre as competências profissionais para o processo detrabalho nos Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família. O mundo da Saúde (CUSC). 2010;34(1):92-6..

It is expected that the speech-language-hearing undergraduate student will have contact with content in the field of public health (including PHC) during their training. It is also expected that this professional will graduate with theoretical and practical knowledge of the work process in the NASF-AP.

This study reveals that the speech-language-hearing therapists mainly develop individual and group activities, team cooperation meetings, home visits, and so on. According to the Ministry of Health, the work conducted by the NASF-AP must be based on providing support to the Family Health Teams, improving their solvability, and reinforcing comprehensive care. The presence of speech-language-hearing therapists has broadened the range of activities and early intervention in PHC66. Soleman C, Martins CL. The work of speech therapists under Support Centers for Family Health (NASF) - specificities of Primary Care. Rev. CEFAC. 2015;17(4):1241-53.,77. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.488, de 21 de outubro de 2011. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2011/prt2488_21 _10_2011.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis...
,1010. Fernandes TL, Nascimento CMB, Sousa FOS. Analyzing the functions of speech therapists of NASF in Recife Metropolitan Region. Rev. CEFAC. 2013;15(1):153-9..

There are various possibilities for the speech-language-hearing therapist to work in PHC, both specific and shared, either in their core knowledge or in the common field of health. Nevertheless, it is still common to find difficulties in the workplace regarding the speech-language-hearing therapists’ field of work. The professional education may once again be related to this since little is observed concerning the preparation for interprofessional work1515. Nascimento DDG, Oliveira MAC. Reflexões sobre as competências profissionais para o processo detrabalho nos Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família. O mundo da Saúde (CUSC). 2010;34(1):92-6.,1616. Silva ATC, Aguiar ME, Winck K, Rodrigues KGW, Sato ME, Grisi SJFE et al. Family Health Support Centers: challenges and opportunities from the perspective of primary care professionals in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública. 2012;28(11):2076-84.. Thus, undergraduate programs could develop a relationship with those of different professions and learn about work in that field, as shown in a study conducted in João Pessoa, Paraíba1717. Costa LS, Alcântara LM, Alves RS, Lopes AMC, Silva AO, Sá LD. The practice of speech-language pathologists at Family Health Support Centers in municipalities of Paraíba. CoDAS. 2013;25(4):381-7..

Another great challenge listed by the speech-language-hearing therapists is related to the narrow perception of both the professionals in the Family Health Strategy and the community regarding the work process in the NASF-AP. The way these teams carry out their activities is often misunderstood, leading to interpersonal conflicts. Therefore, professionals in PHC need to get acquainted with how other professions work and learn to work together. This would help the community understand the role of primary care and value health promotion and injury prevention actions77. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.488, de 21 de outubro de 2011. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2011/prt2488_21 _10_2011.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
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,1818. Santos RABG, Uchôa-Figueiredo L, Lima LC. Matrix support and actions on primary care: experience of professionals at ESF and Nasf. Rev. Saude Debate. 2017;41(114):694-706.,1919. Santana JS, Azevedo TL, Reichert APS, Medeiros AL, Soares MJGO. Center for family health support: team performance at the family health strategy. J. res.: fundam. 2015;7(2):2362-71..

Along with the challenges, there are also the potentials of the speech-language-hearing therapists working in PHC. Those who participated in this research predominantly used the term “solvability” to communicate the importance of having them in a multiprofessional team. According to the Ministry of Health, one of the objectives of the NASF-AP team is to provide specialized support to the Family Health Teams and promote comprehensiveness and solvability in health care77. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.488, de 21 de outubro de 2011. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2011/prt2488_21 _10_2011.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
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Another point emphasized in the words of the speech-language-hearing therapists was the shared teamwork. A study conducted in the city of São Paulo aimed to understand the work of the speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF-AP and identify technologies integrated into the work process. Its interviews revealed that the shared teamwork is important not only for the reassurance in having an NASF-AP workmate but also the learning, exchanging, and sharing when they need to decide what is best in each given case. This corroborates the results of this study66. Soleman C, Martins CL. The work of speech therapists under Support Centers for Family Health (NASF) - specificities of Primary Care. Rev. CEFAC. 2015;17(4):1241-53.,1616. Silva ATC, Aguiar ME, Winck K, Rodrigues KGW, Sato ME, Grisi SJFE et al. Family Health Support Centers: challenges and opportunities from the perspective of primary care professionals in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública. 2012;28(11):2076-84..

To guide the organization of the NASF-AP work process, the Ministry of Health initially defined some technological tools such as team cooperation, whose concept was outlined in the 1990s. It has been implemented since then as a theoretical-methodological reference to reorganize work processes in the field of mental health in some Brazilian cities2020. Bezerra ENR. Estratégia de cuidados integral a saúde: os CAPS no processo de implementação do apoio matricial em Natal/RN [Dissertação]. Natal (RN): Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; 2008..

In general, “cooperation” is understood as participating, supporting, sharing the responsibility for specific health needs presented by a person, family, or community. Team cooperation has two dimensions: Assistance, directly related to the care for individuals, and technical-pedagogical, related to support to the teams, with the possibility of broadening the intervention, furnished by a new look and knowledge acquired during case discussions and shared attention2121. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Departamento de Atenção Básica. Diretrizes do NASF. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, 2009.,2222. Matos BG, Pina ECPS, Ribeiro SFR. Permanent education in health and Family Health Support Centers teams: literature review. Revista Psicologia, Diversidade e Saúde. 2018;7(3):493-506..

Those who participated in this study expressed their understanding of team cooperation as a work organization logic66. Soleman C, Martins CL. The work of speech therapists under Support Centers for Family Health (NASF) - specificities of Primary Care. Rev. CEFAC. 2015;17(4):1241-53.. It is through cooperation that the NASF-AP as a team of specialists works in various shared activities with the Family Health Teams. Hence, it is possible to broaden the range of possibilities for the existing needs in the community, based on the logic of cooperation, in which professionals of different standpoints and fields discuss, debate, intervene, and contribute to comprehensiveness and solvability2323. Bezerra RSS, Carvalho MFS, Silva TPB, Silva FO, Nascimento CMB, Mendonça SS et al. Arranjo matricial e o desafio da interdisciplinaridade na atenção básica: a experiência do Nasf em Camaragibe/PE. Divulgação em Saúde para Debate. 2010;(46):51-9..

Another perspective of the speech-language-hearing therapists in this research refers to team cooperation as a means to draw closer to the Family Health Strategy and improve the relationship with them. As mentioned before, the cooperation can take place in two contexts, the clinical-assistance and the technical-pedagogical. In both perspectives, the NASF-AP professional is cooperating and somehow improving relationships with either the community or the reference team2222. Matos BG, Pina ECPS, Ribeiro SFR. Permanent education in health and Family Health Support Centers teams: literature review. Revista Psicologia, Diversidade e Saúde. 2018;7(3):493-506..

Implementing this logic in everyday routine does not seem to be quite easy. A previous study carried out in São Paulo city identified many difficulties for the NASF-AP to work along with the Family Health Teams, as these last ones felt they were being inspected. Thus, discussing any case together led to uneasiness. They felt this could expose their flaws and, in a way, reveal unskillfulness2424. Barros JO, Gonçalves RMA, Kaltner RP, Lancman S. Matrix support strategies: the experience of two Family Health Support Centers (NASFs) in São Paulo, Brazil. Ciênc. saúde coletiva. 2015;20(9):2847-56..

In this study, when the speech-language-hearing therapists reinforced the team cooperation as a strategy to strengthen the relationship with the supported teams, they seem to point out that this methodology allows for greater communication and mutual learning with exchanged experiences, thus favoring a better relationship between the teams. When these teams meet and have mutual understanding, the noises, myths, and challenges of interprofessional work can be tackled and overcome, leading to a better quality in health care1818. Santos RABG, Uchôa-Figueiredo L, Lima LC. Matrix support and actions on primary care: experience of professionals at ESF and Nasf. Rev. Saude Debate. 2017;41(114):694-706..

The speech-language-hearing therapists made suggestions that, in their understanding, could strengthen the NASF-AP work process. The first suggestion was related to greater investment in practical continuing education for the PHC teams. It would be possible to solve most of the difficulties found in the work process with continuing education activities. Practical continuing education promoted by administrators reveals they are interested in always training and updating the professionals to provide quality health care to the population. It also brings about changes in the professionals and their work processes, resulting in a service closer to the population’s health needs1818. Santos RABG, Uchôa-Figueiredo L, Lima LC. Matrix support and actions on primary care: experience of professionals at ESF and Nasf. Rev. Saude Debate. 2017;41(114):694-706.,2424. Barros JO, Gonçalves RMA, Kaltner RP, Lancman S. Matrix support strategies: the experience of two Family Health Support Centers (NASFs) in São Paulo, Brazil. Ciênc. saúde coletiva. 2015;20(9):2847-56..

The training themes and proposals must be chosen based on the needs of each specific team in its work process. As a result, health professionals can offer quality services and the users’ needs are met1818. Santos RABG, Uchôa-Figueiredo L, Lima LC. Matrix support and actions on primary care: experience of professionals at ESF and Nasf. Rev. Saude Debate. 2017;41(114):694-706.. A study carried out in inland Santa Catarina State showed the difficulties in professional training initiatives, hindering the work process. In it, the interviewees linked this fact to the administration’s lack of knowledge of the importance of practical continuing education as one of the guidelines for health work, corroborating the findings of this study2525. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação na Saúde. Departamento de Gestão da Educação em Saúde. Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde: o que se tem produzido para o seu fortalecimento? Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2018..

Another suggestion expressed in the words of the speech-language-hearing therapists refers to the effective participation of the health administrator in problem-solving. It is believed that many difficulties in the work process would be solved or mitigated if the administration participated more. According to Parisi and Silva2626. Parisi L, Silva JM. Conflict mediation in SUS as a transformative political action. Saúde Debate. 2018;42(n. especial 4):30-42., it is by proposing comprehension, accepting the differences, and encouraging dialogue that conflict mediation in the context of health takes place.

For the work to be developed in an organized fashion, the administration must be committed to monitoring and assessing its teams, ensuring good working conditions, planning, providing continuing education to the professionals, and valuing their work. Thus, the likelihood of consolidating the teams working in PHC increases2727. Souza TS, Medina MG. NASF: fragmentation or integration of health work in PHC? Saúde Debate. 2018;42(n especial 2):145-8.

28. Silva LWS, Silva AGPS, Cardoso LIS, Pithon KR, Valença TDS. Technologic tools - a strategic evaluation to the Family Health Support Center (NASF). Prisma. 2019;39:29-42.
-2929. Melo EA, Miranda L, Silva AM, Limeira RMN. Ten years of Family Health Support Teams (NASF): problematizing some challenges. Saúde Debate. 2018;42(n especial 1):328-40..

This study helped understand more in-depth the role of the speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF as a professional who has various working possibilities available, individually and/or in groups, working based on the logic of team cooperation, always aiming at health promotion, prevention, and recovery77. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Portaria nº 2.488, de 21 de outubro de 2011. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2011/prt2488_21 _10_2011.html. Acesso em: 20 de Out. 2018.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis...
,1010. Fernandes TL, Nascimento CMB, Sousa FOS. Analyzing the functions of speech therapists of NASF in Recife Metropolitan Region. Rev. CEFAC. 2013;15(1):153-9.. Besides understanding the difficulties involved in the work process as expressed in the reports, good suggestions to improve it were observed, such as strengthening continuing education settings, given the importance of constantly updating the professionals involved with PHC striving to offer quality services with properly trained professionals2424. Barros JO, Gonçalves RMA, Kaltner RP, Lancman S. Matrix support strategies: the experience of two Family Health Support Centers (NASFs) in São Paulo, Brazil. Ciênc. saúde coletiva. 2015;20(9):2847-56..

Further studies are suggested on the work process of the speech-language-hearing therapist in PHC. The analysis of their work from the standpoint of other NASF-AP professionals and the Family Health Teams may reveal potentials and challenges for this profession. This would help furnish the basis to qualify the work process and strengthen the training of speech-language-hearing therapists to work at this assistance level.

Conclusion

The good understanding the speech-language-hearing therapists have about the concept of team cooperation, thus carrying out the activities guided by this tool, was observed in this study.

Even though there are difficulties related to the professional education and the work process, the speech-language-hearing therapists in the NASF-AP have been performing individual and group activities, working with health promotion, injury prevention, recovery, and rehabilitation, aiming, always, at the comprehensiveness of care and the greater solvability of the cases.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    05 Feb 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    10 June 2020
  • Accepted
    06 Jan 2021
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