Quality and participation in the health care system in the Casablanca district (Zaragoza, Spain): a reflection on the importance of community

Abstract

The debate over the quality and sustainability of our health care system leads us to questions concerning public access and its value to the public. Primary health care focuses these considerations at the local and community level. In the district of Casablanca (Zaragoza, Spain), 1,032 residents were polled on their perceptions of their health care resources as potential sources of support and the specific way in which health workers could improve their performance. To this end, we designed a survey led by medical staff, the social worker at the local health center and University professors in the psychosocial fields. In the results of the study, we found that variables such as sex, age and area of residence in the neighborhood influence the evaluation of these social resources as well as their alternatives for improvement. The development of our health care system requires not only an anti-crisis policy and budgetary rationalization, but also socio- economic strategies that ensure equity in access and community participation in its planning.