Objective: Identify and clarify what practical organizational measures would promote the development of level 2 (community-oriented group health education) and level 3 (community action) community activities in Primary Health Care (PHC) from the perspective of medical professionals with training and experience in this area.
Method: Exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out using qualitative methodology using two techniques: 3 focus groups (24 participants) and 12 open questionnaires (12 participants).
Results: 25 measures are defined to promote the development of these activities that are the responsibility of management and Primary Care Teams (PCT). The most notable proposals are: enhance training in community health, incorporate community activity into the work agendas of professionals, political prioritization and support from management, ensure the job stability of the teams, strengthen the recognition of activities community, resize the patient population of professionals, strengthen multidisciplinary work, cohesion and an autonomous and flexible organization in the PCT, and have the support of the coordinations-directions of the PCT.
Conclusions: Three proposals have been considered fundamental to promote the development of level 2 and level 3 community activities in PHC: 1) promote training in community health; 2) incorporate community activity into the work agendas of professionals; 3) political prioritization and support from management for the development of these two levels of work in PHC. Six other proposals have been recognized as being of special importance.
Keywords: Administración Sanitaria; Atención Primaria de Salud; Family and Community Medicine; Health promotion; Medicina de familia y comunitaria; Primary Health Care; Promoción de la salud; Public Health; Salud Pública; Sanitary Management.
