Evaluation of Primary Health Care in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil: Method of study

Resumen

Introduction: Organizing first level of health care on the basis of Primary Health Care (PHC) principles and attributes increases capacity in facing individual and collective health problems. That requires adequate structure and working processes, which should be evaluated in order to inform public health management. Objective: to present the investigative problem and to discuss data collection method of two evaluation researches of PHC. Method: A step-by-step description of the confection of the questionnaires, selection and training of interviewers, data collection, quality control, difficulties and solutions found. Results: Data collection instruments were well understood by interviewees and they could be applied without important problems, and only some adaptations were necessary due to the schedule of the interviewers and the participants. Conclusion: The set of informations presented article can be used to feed new researchers in the health field and its considerations are useful to avoid possible difficulties found by them.