Empowering care : navigating the role of portuguese family doctors in sexual medicine
Miniatura indisponível
Data
2024
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
A saúde sexual (SS) é fundamental à qualidade de vida, sendo foco da intervenção da Medicina Sexual (MS). Dentro do Serviço Nacional de Saúde, os Médicos de Família (MF) garantem cuidados abrangentes numa ação biopsicossocial. O objetivo deste estudo exploratório foi investigar perceções dos MF acerca do seu papel na MS e como otimizá-lo. Utilizou-se um design qualitativo on-line transversal, recolhendo-se uma amostra de 73 MF. Analisaram-se os dados através de análise sumativa de conteúdos. Estabeleceram-se três categorias sobre como os MF percecionam o seu papel na MS: “Protagonista”, “Antagonista” e “Circunstancial”. Identificaram-se duas categorias sobre como este poderia ser otimizado: “Legitimar a Saúde Sexual” e “Aumentar o Desenvolvimento Profissional”. Os MF reconhecem-se como gestores institucionais e cuidadores abrangentes, recorrendo a tarefas familiares para exercer num contexto condicionado. Melhorar o seu papel significaria investir em formação, expedir recursos, criar diretrizes detalhadas e sensibilizar profissionais e utentes para lá da perspetiva biomédica. Os resultados salientam a necessidade de ação institucional para reforçar o papel crucial dos MF na MS, garantindo uma utilização eficaz dos recursos e uma resposta holística e consistente em SS, melhorando o cuidado geral aos utentes e sinalizando a SS como uma prioridade nos cuidados de saúde primários.
Sexual health is fundamental for overall well-being and quality of life, and the focus of intervention of Sexual Medicine (SM). Within the National Health Service, Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) guarantee comprehensive care, in a biopsychosocial action. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate PCPs’ perceptions about their role in SM and how to improve it. A cross-sectional online qualitative design was used and a sample of 73 Portuguese PCPs was collected. Data was analyzed employing a summative content analysis. Three categories were established regarding how PCPs perceive their role in SM: “Protagonist”, “Antagonist” and “Circumstantial”. Concerning how PCPs’ practice could be improved, two categories were identified: “Legitimizing Sexual Health” and “Enhancing Professional Development”. PCPs recognize themselves as institutional gatekeepers and comprehensive caregivers, resorting to familiar tasks to practice in a conditioned framework. To improve their role, PCPs highlighted education investment, resource expedition, detailed guidelines creation, and raising provider and patient awareness beyond the biomedical scope. The results stress the need for an institutional effort to uphold PCPs’ crucial role in SM to ensure effective resource use and consistent comprehensive sexual healthcare provision, enhancing overall patient care and placing sexual health as an important field in primary care.
Sexual health is fundamental for overall well-being and quality of life, and the focus of intervention of Sexual Medicine (SM). Within the National Health Service, Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) guarantee comprehensive care, in a biopsychosocial action. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate PCPs’ perceptions about their role in SM and how to improve it. A cross-sectional online qualitative design was used and a sample of 73 Portuguese PCPs was collected. Data was analyzed employing a summative content analysis. Three categories were established regarding how PCPs perceive their role in SM: “Protagonist”, “Antagonist” and “Circumstantial”. Concerning how PCPs’ practice could be improved, two categories were identified: “Legitimizing Sexual Health” and “Enhancing Professional Development”. PCPs recognize themselves as institutional gatekeepers and comprehensive caregivers, resorting to familiar tasks to practice in a conditioned framework. To improve their role, PCPs highlighted education investment, resource expedition, detailed guidelines creation, and raising provider and patient awareness beyond the biomedical scope. The results stress the need for an institutional effort to uphold PCPs’ crucial role in SM to ensure effective resource use and consistent comprehensive sexual healthcare provision, enhancing overall patient care and placing sexual health as an important field in primary care.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
SEXOLOGY, SEXUAL HEALTH, PHYSICIANS, FAMILY DOCTORS, MESTRADO EM TRANSDISCIPLINAR DE SEXOLOGIA, SEXOLOGIA, SAÚDE SEXUAL, MÉDICOS, MÉDICOS DE FAMÍLIA, Mestrado Transdisciplinar de Sexologia