[Level of knowledge and application of a minimum number of preventive measures in primary health care in the province of Ciudad Real].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the level of knowledge about the minimum group of measures of the Programme of Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (PPAHP) among primary health care (PHC) professionals in the province of Ciudad Real.

DESIGN

A descriptive observation and crossover study by means of an anonymous and self-administered survey, sent by mail with return postage paid.

SETTING

Primary care in the province of Ciudad Real.

PARTICIPANTS

All the PHC professionals (543 general practitioners, ATS/DUE (nurses) or paediatricians) in the Province.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A survey of 17 items, including personal, work and organisational data as well as several different preventive measures (including those in the PPAHP), was sent out in October 1992. Data were collected by December, 1992. 194 professionals replied (rate of reply: 35.7%). 29.9% of those replying knew of the PPAHP: Of the six measures in the minimum package, an average of 2.4 were applied "always" or "almost always" by general practitioners, 2.06 by nurses and 1.4 by paediatricians. The most commonly applied measures were control of the healthy child's growth and development, prenatal care and checking for arterial hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

The PPAHP is still little known among PHC professionals in Ciudad Real province and its level of application is also low.