Continuity of care from the perspective of users

Abstract

Continuity of care, in addition to en- suring improvement of the quality of care, con- tributes to the reduction of health costs. The objec- tive of this study was to analyse the continuity of care in health units in the municipality of Évora (south of Portugal), from the perspective of users. This is across-sectional, exploratory and descrip- tive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample consisting of 342 users of health units. The instrument was a questionnaire adapted from En- glish and Spanish studies. The results show that elements of continuity were identi ed in the dif- ferent dimensions of the continuity of care - rela- tional, management, information and some items of exible continuity. Longitudinal continuity has the lowest values in nursing care. In conclusion, what stands out positively, and in its different di- mensions, is relational continuity, in which most users recommend their family doctor and nurse to family and friends, and exible continuity, which translates into reduced waiting times to be attend- ed by a doctor or nurse and access to care. What stands out negatively is the weak involvement of the user in care by health professionals, in the di- mensions of relational continuity.