• B Lahoz Rallo, G Moratalla Rodríguez, C Lineros, and C Barros Rubio.
• Unidad Docente Provincial de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Cádiz.
• Aten Primaria. 2000 Apr 15; 25 (6): 417421417-21.

ObjectivesTo reach a consensus on primary care actions concerning transmissible illnesses in users of the methadone maintenance programme. To promote coordination between levels. To find the needs of primary care professionals.DesignQualitative study based on the nominal group technique.SettingCádiz province, including primary care districts, NHS hospitals and county drug-dependency centres.Participants76 health professionals: two doctors and a nurse from each health centre, selected for their experience and motivation; hospital specialists in preventive medicine and internal medicine also with experience and motivation, and with knowledge of primary care; a doctor from each county drug-dependency centre, chosen by the Provincial Drug-Dependency Management.InterventionsThe study had two phases: a) nominal group technique with homogeneous groups for each professional environment; b) modified nominal group with heterogeneous groups of professionals from all environments by hospital areas.Measurements And Main ResultsThe final result of the study was the overall consensus in the four areas. The prioritized activities focused on "recruitment and study of patients and contacts", "educational and health promotion interventions", "immunisation programme", "monitoring therapy compliance", and "unified record of actions". What was needed to put into practice the interventions was agreed by consensus.ConclusionsConsensus techniques are a useful tool for planning primary care activities. A high degree of reproducibility can be reached if the participants are properly selected. Restrictions in being able to introduce some of the agreed interventions could be avoided with user participation and involvement of the health authorities.

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