title: Assessment of the scope of practice of physicians participating in the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program, and associated factors.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize the scope of practice of physicians working in primary healthcare participating in the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program ('PMM') and investigate the factors associated with execution of a larger number of clinical activities. It is an exploratory study carried over January to March 2016, through a self-applied questionnaire containing a list of 49 procedures, activities and actions carried out in primary healthcare. A total of 1,241 physicians took part in the study, most of them female, between age 40 and 49, and of Cuban nationality. The physicians carried out an average of 22.8 ± 8.2 procedures; they reported knowing how to carry out a larger number of procedures. Factors associated with executing a larger number of procedures were: being male, having graduated more recently, two years or less practicing in their primary healthcare unit, practicing in the North or South geographical regions, in small towns and more distant from the regional health headquarters. The main reason for not carrying out the procedures and activities that they reported knowing how to do was the lack of materials and inadequate infrastructure. The results show that the scope of practice of the physicians of the PMM is lower than their capacities, and that interventions with the intention of widening their scope are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sábado Nicolau
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristiana Leite
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Política, Planejamento e Administração em Saúde, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil.
authors.forename: Célia Regina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juliana de Oliveira
authors.initials: Jde O
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina de Sousa van
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stralen
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thaís Viana
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Lauar
authors.affiliation: Observatório de Recursos Humanos em Saúde, Estação de Pesquisa de Sinais de Mercado, Núcleo de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena 190/7º andar, Santa Efigênia. 30130-100 Belo Horizonte MG Brasil. sabadogirardi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Renata Bernardes
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult