BETWEEN REALITY AND HOPE: CONTINUING EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF WORK PROCESSES IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Lifelong Health Education (LHE) is a tool, based on the interaction teaching-service-community, which transforms institutions, groups and individuals. LHE brings several benefits such as connections between popular and scientific knowledge. It also allows professionals to get new expertises and improves teamwork. Further, LHE brings solutions to health problems in the area where it is applied. This study aims to check the impact of Lifelong Education as a tool for guiding work processes in Primary Health Care (PHC). Based on quantitative and qualitative approaches, exploratory, explanatory and descriptive researches were done in a town in the State of Paraíba. Forms were applied to professionals who work in the teams of Family Health Strategies. Results show many challenges in daily routines such as non-execution of LHE deeds. This non-execution is caused by high clinical care demands, difficult schedules and low team acceptance. We conclude LHE is an essential policy for guiding work processes in a better way. However, it still needs to be strengthened and spread among PHC workers in order to elucidate concepts and implement new approaching strategies in Health Centers.

Keywords: Health Care. Lifelong Education. Work processes.