Satisfação de usuários da atenção primária à saúde: um estudo qualitativo no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

This study deals with user’s satisfaction related to quality in primary health care in the context of public services in the city of Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. It was conducted a qualitative study involving 43 users of health facilities located in this municipality. The research technique used was the non-directive interview, associated to free observations registered on field diary. The discursive material was analyzed from the hermeneutic-critical approach. The results highlight the satisfaction regarding the expansion of the coverage, resulting in improving access. However, several challenges persist, like as dissatisfaction with lack of specialists; barriers of access to specialties and poor integration between services. This study reiterates the importance of the relational dimension in health care and ilustrates the relevance of qualitative approach in studies about user’s satisfaction, in the health evaluation field.