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. DESIGN: 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. SETTING: 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. PARTICIPANTS: 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. METHOD: 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.
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. DESIGN: 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. SETTING: 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. PARTICIPANTS: 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. METHOD: 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.