The objective of this study was to learn about strategies to develop binding between patients and Family Health Program (FHP) professionals at a basic health unit in the city of Fortaleza-CE. This descriptive and qualitative study was performed in August and September 2007 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Study informants were the 12 professionals working in the family health program teams. Data was collected through interviews and organized in the form of subject discourse categories, based on the Collective Subject Discourse technique, and analyzed according to the literature. The study complied with inherent ethical issues regarding research involving human beings. The professionals understand bond as relationship, complicity and trust. They believe that service organization, commitment and respect are indispensable to consolidate this process, which can be established with groups, user embracement and home visits. Emphasis is given to the importance of developing bonding in the Family Health Program as a strategy to improve health care.
Family Health Program; Patient care team; Health services; User embracement