The authors report results from investigation of quality in an adult ambulatory service in Paulinia, SP, Brazil, in a planned health sistem. Trying to define indicators or monitors able to be reproduced methodologicaly in other services, they choose some variables related to the assimilation of diagnostic, prognostic, subsidiary examination and terapeutic informations by the patient during the consult process into the service. Through an interview of patients a fortnight from the consult day, they were asked about the understanding of concepts that should be passed to them in the service. The high percentage of patients that followed and understood the informations given (51%; 72,7%; 57%; 77%) probably reflects the tecnical quality of the service. They conclude that, nowadays, this kind of avaliation is feasible in primary and secondary ambulatory services in Brazil, allowing quick administrative changes trying to improve quality.
