Analysis of the “Paths of Care” course: Changing care and enabling practices

Abstract

The problems brought about by drug abuse have led Brazil to develop different policies to reduce the harms, including the health promotion course “Paths of Care” [“Caminhos do Cuidado”]. This course presupposes the articulation between the institutions of the Unified Health System (SUS), which has been leading this training, the Public Health Schools and the Technical Schools (ETSUS). The goal is to offer training to 290,197 Community Health Agents in the country and one Nursing Auxiliary/Technician per family health team. The approach in the course was not restricted to action based on the biomedical practice of the disease, the rationale was to recognize the knowledge that professionals produce in their daily life. The objective of this social research was to analyze the change in care practices promoted by the course in the relationship between the health professional and the drug addict. Interviews were conducted with 34 ETSUS directors and their content analyzed in the categories: “motivation”, “capacity” and “trigger”. The results suggest that the course worked as a “trigger” in the training of SUS primary care professionals regarding the change of their practices in the care of the addicted person. The course was incorporated into the curriculum matrix of some Technical Schools, while others extended the approach to other categories of health care professionals. The research also suggests a contribution to the organization of programs addressing similar challenges.