Development of professional skills involved in homecare services: a case study

Abstract

Homecare service has grown in Brazil and comprises a set of hospital procedures performed in the patient's home, providing him or her with individualized care and improved quality of life. This article aims to identify individual and collective skills of professionals engaged in this service. For this purpose the present case study was done. The case selected was of a pediatric patient who has been using homecare service, since she left the hospital six years ago. The professionals who work in the case were interviewed, as well as a relative of the patient. The results show that there is not sufficient theoretical knowledge and ability to put it into practice. However, the highlight was the attitudinal issue of the professionals who seek to qualify and enhance their work with the patients. In order to minimize the shortage related to the sharing of skills, being that the professionals usually work by themselves in each shift, it is suggested for the company providing the homecare service to use a tool that everyone involved can participate either in person or remotely.