Percepção de profissionais de saúde acerca da linha de cuidado do sobrepeso e da obesidade no município de Caicó - RN

Abstract

Overweight and obesity represent global health challenges, requiring greater attention in the management of chronic diseases. In the Unified Health System (SUS), the Overweight and Obesity Care Line aims to guide the treatment of overweight patients and is a crucial strategy in tackling this public health issue. However, its effectiveness depends on the organization of the work process and coordination between the levels of care. This qualitative study investigated the perception of health managers and professionals about the organization of this Line of Care in the municipality of Caicó-RN. Official documents were analyzed and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants, including managers and professionals from primary care and the specialist network. The data was subjected to content analysis and organized into three categories: 1) flow of care at the different levels of care; 2) compliance with established regulations; and 3) facilitating factors and barriers to effective implementation. The results show gaps in the coordination of services, continuous training of professionals and user adherence to lifestyle changes, even though the Line of Care has a well-structured design. It is concluded that improvements in these aspects are essential to strengthen the management of obesity in the SUS.