User embracement in the family health strategy in Brazil' an integrative review/Acolhimento na estrategia saude da familia: revisao integrativa

Objective. To review the literature regarding the application of the notion of user embracement and to identify the contributions of this concept for primary health care practices in Brazil. Method. We carried out an integrative review of the literature regarding primary health care. The following databases were searched: LILACS, SciELO, and MEDLINE, covering the period from 2006 to 2010. The following search terms were used in LILACS and SciELO: "acolhimento" and "programa saude da familia" and "saude". For MEDLINE, the terms "user embracement" and "family health program" and "health" were used. The review was performed in November 2010. Results. We identified 21 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, all of which described studies carried out in Brazil. The articles were divided into three empirical categories: integration and embracement; primary care work process; and evaluation of services. These are complementary categories that converge to two main views of embracement: the first sees embracement as a means of reorganizing the primary health care environment, and the second sees embracement as an attitude towards users. The review also shows that embracement may be a management tool that supports the Unified Health System and is associated with the principles of comprehensiveness and universality. Conclusions. Embracement is able to create a bond between health care workers and users. It promotes self-care, a better understanding of disease, as well as user co-responsibility for treatment. In addition, it facilitates universal access, strengthens multiprofessional and intersectoral work, qualifies care, humanizes practices, and encourages actions to combat prejudice. Nevertheless, the perspective of health care users regarding embracement deserves more attention and should be the focus of future studies. Key words Family health; user embracement; primary health care; Brazil. Objetivo. Revisar a literatura acerca da aplicacao do conceito de acolhimento e elucidar as contribuicoes desse conceito para as praticas na atencao primaria a saude. Metodos. Foi realizada uma revisao integrativa que investigou a producao do conhecimento sobre atencao primaria a saude. Foram pesquisadas as seguintes bases de dados: LILACS, SciELO e MEDLINE, no periodo de 2006 a 2010. Os termos de busca utilizados na LILACS E SciELO foram: "acolhimento" AND "programa saude da familia" AND "saude". Na MEDLINE foram usados os termos "user embracement" AND "family health program"