Práticas dos psicólogos no Sistema Único de Saúde em Umuarama - PR: um caminho em construção

Abstract

The increasing integration of psychologists in the service network of the Unified Health System (UHS) and the demand for new skills and professional skills have generated much discussion concerning the knowledge and practices of psychology. In this context, this essay aims to describe the training and practices of the psychologists included in the UHS in the city of Umuarama-Pr, being the integrality as the parameter. In doing so the kind of the research was a qualitative survey. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with psychologists in performance in UHS services and professionals involved with health management in the city. The method used for the analysis was the content analysis, with emphasis on three areas: education, psychological practices and insight into the role of psychologists in public health in the city. The results showed an academic-oriented traditional clinical model, identifying some gaps to work in the area of public health. Regarding the role of psychologists in health, the activities they perform include individual and group psychotherapy, home visits, meeting/orientation of team. The respondents identified a lack of acknowledgement of the work of psychology in the UHS from the people, management and own psychologists, perhaps because of lack of clarity of their possible performances. Some changing trends have been identified in training and innovation in professional practice in public health. However, some challenges need be overcome to effective construction of the integrality in the psychologist work in the city, such as training and organization, making necessary the maintenance of discussions on the formation and setting up of their practices in order to they can fully contribute to the integration and development of psychology in the UHS.