Avaliando os atributos da atenção primária: uma revisão

Abstract

In 1994, Brazilian Ministry of Health launched the Family Health Program (PSF) as a strategy of reorganizing primary care. It covers, since 2008, over 50% of national population. Therefore, concerns raises about the primary care performance evaluation, measured through its basic principles. One of the many instruments developed for that purpose is the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) questionnarie. We conducted a review about different ways of measuring access to health services, in primary care scenario, and about PCAT as well. After the peer-review, ten articles were selected for its adequate methodology and high correlation with the proposed subject. We found that PCAT is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring primary care principles, including access. It can reveal interesting differences in patient and professionals perceptions, and between distinct care models.