Users’ Perceptions of Access to and Quality of Unified Health System Services in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study and Implications to Healthcare Management Challenges

Jhoyce S. Souza, Edna A. Reis, Brian Godman, Stephen M. Campbell, Johanna C. Meyer, Luann W. P. Sena and Isabella P. D. Godói ()
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Jhoyce S. Souza: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Aluízio da Silva Gomes 50—Granja dos Cavaleiros, Macaé 27930-560, RJ, Brazil
Edna A. Reis: Department of Statistics, Exact Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Brian Godman: Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
Stephen M. Campbell: Department of Public Health and Pharmacy Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
Johanna C. Meyer: Department of Public Health and Pharmacy Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
Luann W. P. Sena: College of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biological Studies, Federal University of South and Southeast of Pará, Avenida dos Ipês, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Loteamento Cidade Jardim, Marabá 68508-970, PA, Brazil
Isabella P. D. Godói: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Aluízio da Silva Gomes 50—Granja dos Cavaleiros, Macaé 27930-560, RJ, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Evaluating the access to and quality of healthcare services from the users’ perspective is an important assessment process to identify priorities. This study assessed the profile of health service usage and the views of the Unified Health System (SUS) users about the access to and quality of SUS public health services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants from the Coastal Lowlands Region of the Rio de Janeiro State/Brazil, between August and November 2023. The association between categorical variables was analyzed using the Pearson Chi-Square test, using R software 4.3. A total of 200 individuals were interviewed using a 66-question survey instrument. Participants who reported using SUS services more frequently rated this system as essential ( p -value = 0.031). However, overall, 64% of participants rated the quality of care to be very bad/bad and 34.9% rated access as very bad/bad. Access was considered poor by respondents who used public services rarely or sometimes ( p -value = 0.002). In terms of accessing SUS services consultations provided by specialists (e.g., neurologists), these were available only in another municipality ( p -value = 0.001). Many participants were SUS dependent for health services, and gaps and weaknesses were observed regarding users‘ perspectives of the access to and quality of SUS health care. Policymakers should prioritize evaluations and dialogue with the community to make SUS services responsive and to optimize value-for-money in health service planning.

Keywords: Brazil; access; quality; health services; experiences; users; public health; management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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