Dimensions of interprofessional collaboration in the dynamics of the expanded family health and primary care centers: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Primary health care (PHC) in Brazil is based on Family Health Strategy (FHS) teams. These teams are supported by Expanded Family Health and Primary Care Centers (Nuclei) (NASF-AB) whose services are backbone elements for comprehensive health care within PHC. NASF-AB encompass several professional groups that aim to increase the responsiveness and scope of actions of the FHS teams. The objective of this study was to identify the dimensions of collaboration in the work dynamics of NASF-AB in the capital of Northeast Brazil. The study was a descriptive and exploratory research using a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with nine NASF-AB workers and three district health managers. Three analytical categories were identified following content analysis: “Interprofessional and inter-organizational collaboration,” “Mainstays of collaboration in the relationship between NASF-AB and FHS,” and “Challenges for a culture of collaboration in health care work.” The results revealed important characteristics for interprofessional collaboration, including recognition of the attributions of the different teams and the key role of communication and planning. Participants highlighted roadblocks for interprofessional collaboration that hampered comprehensive care, such as the shortage of manpower and material resources, work overload, and lack of availability of professionals for effective teamwork.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary health care
• work
• interprofessional relations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geraldo Eduardo Guedes de Brito

Dr. Geraldo Eduardo Guedes de Brito is professor of Postgraduate Program in Collective Health, Postgraduate Program in Family Health and Postgraduate Program in Physiotherapy at the Health Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa (PB) Brazil.

Joserires Gleydson Santos Benício de Sá

Joserires Gleydson Santos Benício de Sá holds a Master's degree from the Postgraduate Program in Family Health at the Health Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa (PB) Brazil.

Augusto José Bezerrade de Andrade

Augusto José Bezerra de Andrade holds a master's degree from the Graduate Program in Collective Health at the Health Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa (PB) Brazil.

Franklin Delano Soares Forte

Dr. Franklin Delano Soares Forte is Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Family Health at the Health Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa (PB) Brazil.

Adriane Pires Batiston

Dr. Adriane Pires Batiston is a Professor at the Postgraduate Program in Family Health at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande (MS), Brazil.

Marcelo Viana da Costa

Dr. Marcelo Viana da Costa is Professor of the Postgraduate Program in Education in Health and the Postgraduate Program in Education, Work and Innovation in Medicine at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. Multicampi School of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Caicó (RN), Brazil.