[The levels of knowledge about nonclinical areas which are characteristic of the new model of primary care].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the level of knowledge about the non-clinical areas which characterise the new model of primary care among doctors and nurses who work in primary care teams (PCT); and to identify the most deficient areas of knowledge and the variables associated with these lower levels of knowledge.

DESIGN

An observation study of a crossover kind.

SETTING

PCTs of Health Area 1 in Madrid.

PARTICIPANTS

Doctors and nurses who were working in the 23 PCTs functioning when the study was carried out (321 people).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Knowledge was measured by a self-filled, anonymous questionnaire elaborated by a panel of experts. It contained 72 items with correct (C) or false (F) double reply, grouped in 12 basic areas of knowledge relating to the non-clinical aspects which characterise the new model of primary care (PC). A pilot test was done in a PCT in another Area. The data bases were performed on DBASEIII+ and the statistical analysis on SPSS v. 4.0. The required level of knowledge through the questionnaire as a whole was attained by 41.6% of the professionals. An association with the following was noted: Age (p < 0.0001), Profession (p < 0.005), Year that training ended (p < 0.01), Type of contract (p < 0.005), Nature of access to a permanent post (p < 0.0005), postgraduate academic training for doctors (p < 0.001) and Residency in Family and Community Medicine (p < 0.009). The most deficient areas of knowledge were: Evaluation of procedures and programmes (46%), Community Participation (51.6%), the filling-out and standardisation of records (55.2%), and the Evaluation of objectives and quality control mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of non-clinical areas is low.