Evaluation of Psychosocial Care Centers based on their Users' Beliefs

Abstract

The Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS) was created as a substitute service for psychiatric hospitals and acts as a protagonist in the operationalization of the principles of psychiatric reform in Brazil. Under threat of anti-reform actions, it needs constant evaluation, in order to improve the service and, consequently, increase therapeutic adherence and clinical quality in its broad dimension, incorporating social, economic and political demands. In response to this demand, the objective was to evaluate the operational conditions and the CAPS service based on the beliefs of its users. A qualitative research was carried out, with the participation of 11 CAPS users, who answered a semi-structured interview, analyzed with the help of IRaMuTeQ. The results showed that users have beliefs that generate negative evaluations about the availability of human and material resources, and physical infrastructure. On the other hand, there are positive beliefs about the quality of professionals, accessibility to the service and the activities developed. It is concluded that CAPS offers quality service, but that it has operational conditions that require greater investment and restructuring.