Matrix Support in the SUS of Campinas: how an inter-professional practice has developed and consolidated in the health network

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva 2016-05, Vol.21 (5), p.1625
• Main Authors: de Castro, Cristiane Pereira, de Oliveira, Monica Martins, de Sousa Campos, Gastao Wagner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232015215.19302015

This study aims to characterize the teams and the inter-professional work process of Matrix Support developed and practiced in primary healthcare provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in Campinas, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. This is an exploratory descriptive study involving a questionnaire that was applied to 232 professionals who practice Matrix Support for primary healthcare. For analysis, the data were grouped into four categories: Identification of the professional; Work links to the Campinas SUS; Organization of the Matrix Support work; and the Support practice. The study indicates that the methodology of support for inter-professional work has achieved an important degree of consolidation in the municipality, in spite of the restricted investment. The reduced working time dedicated to support, and the large number of teams supported by each Matrix Support team were identified as the principal points of fragility in the work process. In turn, strong points that emerged were the multiplicity of tools used, the possibility of shared construction of work guidelines, and the flexibility in the composition of the support teams. Both the fragilities and the potentialities found can offer inputs for reflection and full creation of Matrix Support in other contexts.