We conducted a theoretical reflection on the work of primary healthcare professionals in the scope of user embracement, searching for possibilities to overcome alienation in their production process, based on experience reports regarding user embracement implementation in primary healthcare services. We identified the following theoretical perspectives which we consider useful in order to enhance humanization in the work in the health area and also to foster subjectivity in interpersonal relationships: affection, empathy and alterity. Although they are closely related to each other, we believe alterity is the theoretical perspective that is able to give the health worker conditions to develop user embracement while ensuring his/her own humanization. Alterity opens possibilities to cope with everyday situations in the healthcare services, providing health professionals with the conditions to work without restricting themselves to a biomedical point of view and, at the same time, preserving their own health.
User embracement; Healthcare services; Primary healthcare; Interdisciplinary research