Care for the elderly: factors that influence the performance of health professionals in primary care

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the factors that influences the performance of family health teams (FHT) in caring for the elderly in view point of two levels of management (micro and meso). Method: Survey that was conducted in João Pessoa-PB, involving 250 health professionals. Data were collected by primary source, using a questionnaire containing questions related to the evaluation of health services in elderly care. Results: The components of the micro-management, 22,8% said lack of improvement to work with the elderly, low supply of group activities (26,4%), displacement of the teamwork (18,8%) and somewhat humanized practices (16,4%). Among the components of meso-management were mentioned inadequacy and unavailability of materials and human resources (16,4%/12,4%), inaccessibility (28,4%), low agreement with the principle of integrality (9,6%). Conclusion: Increase the capacity of resolution of FHT and enhance the specific functions of micro-management requires technological adaptation/structural units, investment in training, social inclusion the elderly.