[The evaluation of an incentive system for the primary care professionals of Mallorca].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the assessment made by Mallorca's primary care professionals of the economic incentives system set up in 1994 and find their opinions of financial incentives and other motivating mechanisms.

DESIGN

A descriptive, crossover study.

SETTING

Primary care in Mallorca (INSALUD of the Balearics).

PARTICIPANTS

All the health professionals and ancillary workers (554) of Mallorca's 24 Health Centres.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A self-filled questionnaire was used as a measuring instrument. There was a 74% reply rate. Their assessment of the incentives system used was that the distribution of the incentives was unjust and a cause of tension. However, expectations as to the amount received had been met to a reasonable extent. Self-management was a stronger motivating force than incentives (48.4% vs 13.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The incentives system used displayed certain faults (in distribution and the work atmosphere generated). However, decentralization was shown to be a powerful motivating force. Monitoring professionals' expectations and the fulfillment of them should be integrated into management habits.