Taking primary care continuing professional education to rural areas: lessons from the United Arab Emirates.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a practice based multidisciplinary educational program.


METHODS
A descriptive account of experiences in introducing a new program of continuing professional development.


METHODS
Rural primary health care centres in the United Arab Emirates.


METHODS
All staff working in the rural health centres.


RESULTS
The educational intervention proved popular and appeared to effect a behavioural change. Teamwork in the health centres showed a marked improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
A practice-based, multidisciplinary educational program using case-based learning proved to be effective when introduced to rural health centres of a developing country with multiracial health care professionals. .
Revel
Tony
T
Primary Health Care Administration, Ministry of Health, Al Ain Medical District, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. tony.revel@ueaeu.ac.ae
Yussuf
Hussein
H
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003906:Developing Countries; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates