Desafios e enfrentamentos de residentes na avaliação de contatos de pacientes com hanseníase na Atenção Primária à Saúde em Palmas-TO

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic and infectious disease, requiring contact evaluation for early diagnosis and prevention. Without treatment, it can lead to physical disability. The objective of this study was to identify the main challenges faced by residents of the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program and the Multiprofessional Residency Program in Family and Community Health in evaluating contacts of leprosy patients in Primary Health Care in Palmas - TO. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study involving medical residents, nurses, and physiotherapists. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire with 14 closed-ended questions, analyzed descriptively and exploratorily. The main challenges identified were the lack of specific schedules for contact evaluation, failures in health education, absence of contacts during consultations, and insufficient management support. The most common strategy was active case finding, though still ineffective. Other approaches, such as mass campaigns and home visits, are rarely implemented. It is concluded that there is a need to reorganize schedules, create specific time slots for contact evaluation, strengthen support for professionals, and promote actions such as mass campaigns and home visits, with the aim of improving monitoring and interrupting the transmission of Leprosy.