The Discourse of the Primary Care Professionals in the Autonomous Community of Madrid Concerning the Work with Groups: on Techniques and Technicians

Abstract

Background: Group-focused education for health is becoming a progressively more important activity in primary care. With the metaobjective of contributing to the further development thereof, this research set outs as specific objectives: knowing what is meant by «group-focused work» and ascertaining who is doing this work and how the group practices are carried out. Methods: From a qualitative-structural standpoint, four discussion groups and four open interviews were held. The discussion groups held were: two with physicians, specialists in pediatrics, in family medicine and in community medicine, one with nursing professionals and another with professional social workers. The open interviews: two with general practitioners and two with social workers in the Primary Care Areas in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. Results: The groups are understood, by most of the professionals, as groupings of homogeneous individuals as regards age and the disease involved to which information is conveyed by means of informal "talks" which are given mainly by nurses. A minority called for another way of construing and doing work with groups based more on a sharing of experiences and on fostering the group dynamics, an approach spearheaded particularly by women social workers. The physicians play a minority, sporadic role which is always in conjunction with the other professions. Conclusions: Groups-focused work in education for health in primary care involves mostly "talks" given by nurses and social workers, it therefore being found necessary to promote team activities in this group-focused work, by boosting the motivation and the training of the professional and bettering the evaluation of group experiences.