The information in Communitary Health Agent and the patients' relations at Family Health Program

Abstract

This is an exploratory study to investigate the views of the various social active members in the Family Health Program of São Paulo about the information among the relation of Community Health Agents (Agentes Comunitários de Saúde). Between August and September of 2002, several healthcare professionals were interviewed, such as: The Head of Basic Healthcare Units, Physicians, Nurses and Community Health Agents. The speech of managers and professionals showed that the Agent information should be restrict to administrative and organizational matters, intervened and decided by healthcare professionals, avoiding information about pathologies or health injury. The Agent predominant speech, nevertheless the understanding that their functions is not to know the patients diagnosis or to provide information about treatments, medicines or exams results, they express interest to know more about the users pathologies in order to help them in theirs demands. Also, was showed an agreement in relation of the objectives of the Program, without been observed the endeavor of the Agent to insert in the competency of the other professionals of the Health Family Program team.