THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVE OUTREACH IN PROMOTING MEN’S HEALTH AND PREVENTING PROSTATE-RELATED CONDITIONS: A REPORT ON A CLINICAL CARE EXPERIENCE AT A HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER

Abstract

The difficulty in establishing contact with male users limits the reach of health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. This article reports on an "active outreach" (proactive contact) initiative carried out by a health insurance provider in Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, focusing on providing guidance regarding men's health and facilitating the various stages involved in prostate evaluation. This is a descriptive, retrospective, quantitative report on a care-related experience, involving 2,750 beneficiaries. Of these, 478 (17.4%) were successfully contacted; 1,569 (57.1%) could not be reached, and 703 (25.6%) had outdated registration information. Among the users who were reached, all underwent total and free PSA testing. Within this group, 359 (75.1%) received a urological evaluation, while 119 (24.9%) were evaluated by a general practitioner. A total of 173 abdominal ultrasounds (36.2%) and 147 transrectal ultrasounds (30.8%) were recorded. The data show that, among the beneficiaries who were reached, there was follow-through across various stages of care. At the same time, the limited reach of the strategy and the prevalence of outdated registration data indicate that communication with users must be treated as an integral part of how care is organized. Active outreach can help facilitate engagement with health services, provided it is supported by reliable information, appropriate communication channels, and individualized clinical assessment.