The matrix support health by occupational therapists in Brazilian Unified Health System

• Main Authors: Bruna de Oliveira Jacinto, Camila de Souza Rodrigues, Bruno Souza Bechara Maxta, Alessandro Rodrigo Pedroso Tomasi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de São Carlos 2017-03-01
• Series: Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional
• Subjects: Occupational Therapy; Matrix Support; Unified Health System
• Online Access: http://www.cadernosdeterapiaocupacional.ufscar.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/1455/832

Introduction: The occupational therapist is one of the professionals that composes multidisciplinary team that develops the matrix support in the Unified Health System (UHS). Objective: This study aimed to describe the matrix support practice undertaken by occupational therapists in UHS based on a bibliographical research performed in Brazilian occupational therapy journals. Method: Five articles composed this study. The analysis was previously established with the following categories: types of health service where the matrix support is performed; professional involved with the matrix support; population and health or social conditions; matrix support objectives; intervention features and occupational therapists’ challenges. Data analysis was performed from the description of the data. Results: Matrix support was presented as a multiprofessional assignment in Primary Health Care (PHC). The target audience were children, adults, the elderly, familily members, caregivers and health professionals. Health assistance, social assistance and continuous health education were the matrix support demands. The objectives were to equip the professionals with health technologies for integral care in PHC and to implement actions, in shared therapeutic and institutional projects focused on occupational performance, belonging and social participation on their community, just as social control in UHS. Conclusion: The practice validity was presented as the mainly challenge for the matrix support.