[Continuing education in primary care: the educational needs of its professionals].
OBJECTIVE
To find professionals' suggestions for training contents, the value they place on various options, the difficulties they detect for attending activities and their preferences for time-table and format of courses.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive study.


METHODS
Primary Care Area 7 in Madrid.


METHODS
Medical and office workers from the area (n=1,053).


METHODS
An anonymous self-filled questionnaire.


RESULTS
39% replied (46% nurses; 42% administrative assistants, and 40% doctors). The subjects for courses most often requested by doctors were dermatology, minor surgery and radiology; by nurses, emergency, functional bandages and computer skills; and by administrative assistants, computers, management of health service delivery and Internet. The continuing education options valued most highly were courses/workshops in the area's continuing education programme, self-training sessions and rotations. The main difficulties for attending courses were the lack of budget for cover and time-tables outside working hours. 42% preferred mornings; and 35%, courses lasting more than 20 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
The training needs expressed by doctors and nurses are mainly clinical in content, whereas those of office staff are mainly computer-related. The most highly valued training options are the courses/workshops in the area's continuing education programme. The main difficulty for attending courses is the lack of cover for their job.
Garrido Elustondo
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S
Médico especialista en Medicina Preventiva. Unidad de Formación e Investigación. Area 7 del Insalud. Madrid. España. sgarrido@gapm07.insalud.es
García Vallejo
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R
Nogales Aguado
P
P
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004496:Education, Continuing; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain