Minor procedures in primary health care: A rapid review
Anabelle Montagna Barbosa Gouvêa1, Juliana Peres Ribeiro Soares Paes2, Alexia Hannesch3
1Primary Health Care Division, Health Department of the Federal District, Brasília, Brazil; Medical Residency Program in Family and Community Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Objectives:
Primary Health Care (PHC) is the main gateway to the Brazilian Unified Health System, responsible for comprehensive and continuous care. The performance of minor procedures is included in the PHC Services Portfolio and plays a key role in strengthening service resolvability. This study aimed to analyze how the performance of minor procedures in PHC is presented in the recent scientific literature.
Study Design:
Rapid review.
Methods:
A rapid literature review was conducted using the WHO Practical Guide for Rapid Reviews. Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and LILACS databases, covering studies published between 2019 and 2024. Articles were included if they addressed minor procedures performed in PHC.
Results:
A total of 4239 articles were identified. Of these, 4219 were excluded by title screening, and 3 due to duplication across databases, leaving 17 for full-text reading. After assessment, 16 articles met the eligibility criteria. The findings suggest that minor procedures in PHC increase resolvability, reduce waiting times and costs, improve user satisfaction, and have low complication rates. Reported barriers include limited infrastructure, insufficient professional training, and lack of institutional support.
Conclusions:
Implementing minor procedures in PHC improves the quality and efficiency of care. However, the evidence remains fragmented, largely descriptive, and concentrated in high-income countries. Future studies in low- and middle-income contexts are essential to evaluate cost-effectiveness, safety, feasibility, and sustainability, and to guide sustainable policies.
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