[Clinical management units in primary care: a question under debate].
OBJECTIVE
To find the views of health professionals on how the terms of the new management agreement with clinical units affect the quality of health delivery.


METHODS
Qualitative study to find professionals' views. Individual opinions of key informers were obtained, secondary sources were analysed and a discussion group rounded off the study. The categories for the analysis were established on the basis of the results obtained.


METHODS
Primary care districts in the provinces of Sevilla and Cádiz, in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. Health districts of differing social-economic and geographical characteristics were chosen.


METHODS
9 professionals involved in the new system of management. The selection criteria refer to the kind of professional, the unit or work team and the characteristics of the health district.


METHODS
The semi-structured interview with key informers and a discussion group were the basic techniques for gathering information.


RESULTS
A view that the clinical management units were designed as a savings strategy was detected. There were differences about primary care teams.


CONCLUSIONS
Professionals think there is too much rigidity and adding-up in the measurement of targets and objectives. This creates unfavourable working conditions, which affects the quality of health service delivery.
Alvarez Girón
M
M
Departamento de Ciencias Sociosanitarias. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Sevilla. España. solano@us.es
García Gil
C
C
Solano Parés
A
A
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires