Management of interprofessional work in the singular therapeutic project: proposal for a work process model

Abstract

Objective: propose a model for organizing the activities of a Singular Therapeutic Project (STP) in the context of Family Health Strategy (FHS), contemplating interprofessional collaboration. Method: It is qualitative research. The action-research strategy was used, involving a multidisciplinary health team and interprofessional collaboration actions, in order to improve the practice. Action research was chosen because it is suitable for studies in social settings, in different contexts. The researchers and the team agreed the discussion of the STP would take place in large meetings to encourage discussion, reflection and proposals for actions to be taken for the case. Fieldwork involved approximately 20 meetings with the team that generated subsequent reflective moments of the research. This dynamic favored the proposal of the model. The stages of the research work were: problem recognition, planning,
implementation and evaluation. Result: In the collective work meetings, some flaws in the STP process were noticed, such as: a lack of clarity of objectives; few interprofessional collaborative actions directed and planned along with the patient and family and low resolution. Thus, a four-step model was proposed: staff meeting, assignment of STP cases, executing the STP, and closing the STP. These steps range from case selection to completion of the STP, or definition of a new care approach by the team. Conclusion: The proposed model is a theoretical contribution and needs further empirical studies in order to validate its application within the FHS. The lack of pre and postgraduate training in interprofessional education of the participants was identified as a limiting factor for the care management for the STP. However, the model is justified as it helps to build interprofessional actions, recommended by the Unified Health System (UHS) and international health agencies (WHO and PAHO).