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Key research themes
1. How does the Family Health Strategy (FHS) impact access to and continuity of primary care in diverse populations?
This research theme investigates how the Family Health Strategy model influences the establishment of a usual source of care (USC), longitudinal care, and equitable access to health services. It is crucial in middle-income countries like Brazil, where health system reforms aim to improve comprehensive and continuous primary care, especially in underserved populations.
Key finding: Using data from a nationally representative household survey of nearly 63,000 participants, this study demonstrated that enrollment in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) was significantly associated with higher prevalence of... Read more
Key finding: This cross-sectional study with 81 health professionals in a medium-sized Brazilian city found that the Family Health Strategy model received superior ratings relative to traditional primary care models on general performance... Read more
Key finding: Assessment of FHS units in rural Federal District showed a responsiveness index of 0.755 overall with higher scores in respect for people (0.814) but lower in customer orientation (0.599), highlighting infrastructural and... Read more
Key finding: In Nordic hospital settings, differing levels of family-focused practice related to varying organizational supports and competencies were identified across institutions. The findings emphasize that implementation differences... Read more
2. What are the challenges and facilitators in operationalizing family-centered care within the Family Health Strategy context?
This area examines how family-centered care principles are enacted by healthcare professionals in FHS teams, the roles families play in managing care, and the organizational and professional barriers and facilitators that influence effective family health interventions. Understanding these factors is vital for improving collaboration and health outcomes.
Key finding: This qualitative grounded theory study in a Canadian children's hospital context challenges the assumption that family-centered care implies a shift of responsibility onto families. Instead, families desire true collaboration... Read more
Key finding: Qualitative analysis of 15 nurses in southern Brazil identified that lack of workplace organization, bureaucracy, and restrictions limit nurses' ability to advocate effectively for users. However, empowerment through... Read more
Key finding: User perspectives revealed satisfaction with nursing care linked to listening and warmth, yet frustration with authoritarian and inflexible approaches. Home visits focused mainly on bedridden patients, with limited preventive... Read more
Key finding: Review of literature shows that inclusion of Oral Health Teams in FHS improved access to dental care and prevention. However, challenges persist such as professional integration, quality variations, and unmet demand from... Read more
Key finding: Interviews and focus groups with Malaysian healthcare providers and patients involved in the Family Health Team pilot highlighted initial challenges in zoning, team formation, and patient assignment, but also recognized the... Read more
3. How can interdisciplinary training and preventive family-focused interventions be integrated into the Family Health Strategy to improve health outcomes?
This theme addresses the need for interdisciplinary education and training approaches to foster collaborative care with families in primary care, and the embedding of evidence-based preventive family interventions within the Family Health framework to extend reach and optimize health promotion and disease prevention at the household level.
Key finding: This paper argues that while family-focused prevention programs have proven efficacy in reducing behavioral health problems, their reach remains limited due to social stigma, legitimacy concerns, and funding instability.... Read more
Key finding: The article advocates for integrating the Patient and Family-Centered Care Model with Interprofessional Education and primary healthcare principles to transform health professional training in Brazil. This interdisciplinary... Read more
Key finding: This conceptual paper proposes a model emphasizing family health practices and the child's emerging role as a health-promoting actor within an ecocultural context, highlighting how both internal family factors and external... Read more
Key finding: This Indonesian cross-sectional study involving 327 diabetes patients and their caregivers found a moderately strong positive correlation (r=0.593, p<0.001) between the degree of family health task implementation and... Read more
Key finding: The chapter describes the development and effectiveness of the Strengthening Families Program, a selective prevention intervention targeting children in high-risk families to reduce substance abuse and behavioral problems... Read more