Assessment of primary care attributes from the perspective of elderly people

Check the evaluation of older adults regarding the attributes of access, continuity of care, and coordination in Primary Health Care and associated factors.

A household survey with a cross-sectional design was conducted with 310 older adults registered at a Primary Health Care Unit in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Data collection took place between June and August 2024. The attributes of Primary Health Care were assessed through home interviews, using a validated instrument that covers the dimensions of access, longitudinality, and coordination. Descriptive analyzes and multivariate regression were performed to identify sociodemographic factors associated with the quality of services.

The perception of the evaluated attributes was predominantly positive. In the multivariate analysis, male sex and lack of occupation were associated with a lower positive perception of access, while the yellow race showed a positive association. Older adults of brown race (p=0.043), retirees (p=0.022), and those with monthly consultations (p<0.001) showed a higher positive evaluation of longitudinality. Coordination was positively associated with monthly consultations (p<0.001), brown race (p=0.044), and good adherence to medication treatment (p<0.001).

The findings indicate a favorable evaluation by older adults regarding the attributes of Primary Health Care. Socioeconomic factors and frequency of service use were found to influence the perception of quality. It is emphasized the need to improve resources and work processes to reduce inequalities, strengthen coordination, and promote more integrated and continuous care.