Cahiers de sociologie et de démographie médicales
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Cah Sociol Demogr Med · Oct 2007
General emergency medicine skills (GEMS) training for rural physicians: evaluation of a pilot project.
The objective of GEMS (General Emergency Medicine Skills) is to deliver an emergency skills program relevant to rural physicians. The cognitive component was disseminated by four interactive CD-ROM modules while the practice component consisted of skill practice on a human patient simulator (HPS) at a rural hospital. During the pilot year, 16 participants completed the program and filled in an evaluation survey to collect participant feedback. ⋯ The application process was easy and program administration was good. GEMS positively affected participants' delivery of emergency medicine and their willingness to continue the practice of rural emergency medicine. GEMS provides rural physicians relevant, interactive skills training at a rural setting.
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Cah Sociol Demogr Med · Jul 2007
The Portuguese contribution to the brain drain from Portuguese speaking African countries.
In the first part of this paper, a secondary analysis of multiple data sources was done to identify how many nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacists and other health workers have migrated from the Portuguese speaking African countries (PSAC) to Portugal between 1998 and 2002. In the second part, the results of a 2003 questionnaire based survey of 45 nurses, from Guinea-Bissau, residing in Portugal are reported. Health professionals are increasing as a proportion of total immigrants into Portugal. ⋯ Our study of Guinea-Bissau nurses in Portugal replicates the results of other studies and suggests that the decision to emigrate is multiply determined. The implication for policy makers is that the causal complexity among factors spurring emigration makes that the marginal effect of policy reforms addressing one or more of the multiple determinants of emigration may be sufficient to retain some proportion of health professionals, even when other determinants of emigration are present. The situation observed is also indicative of the need of programs for social integration of these professionals.
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This paper reports on multiple employment among Portuguese health sector workers, using data obtained from six studies. The methodological aspects of these studies are briefly summarized. The prevalence among the study populations varies between 5 and 80%. ⋯ For most nurses the salary increment resulting from multiple employment was less than their public sector salary. For both groups, improving income levels and higher job satisfaction were important reasons to seek additional employment. For physicians working in public services, access to more professional autonomy was an important reason for seeking additional employment in the private sector.
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This paper discusses the state of the health workforce in Portugal's mainland during the past four decades. Healthcare workers represent 3.76% of the Portuguese workforce. All health professional groups significantly increased since 1960. ⋯ Data on the private sector is insufficient in spite of its rising importance. The right number and mix of healthcare workers for an optimal healthcare system performance is a complex question and answering it requires an adequate information system. Portugal does not have such a system yet.
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Cah Sociol Demogr Med · Jul 2007
Professionals entering and leaving the Portuguese health services system.
In Portugal, the healthcare sector demand for professionals has traditionally outweighed the supply for physicians, nurses and health technicians. However, the capacity of the National Health Service, the main healthcare sector employer, to absorb new professionals is apparently decreasing, and the demand for professionals in the private sector is unclear, but it seems to be growing. With regard to physicians, demand seems to persistently exceed supply, as many physicians work in several institutions or work overtime in the public sector, and the number of foreign physicians practicing in Portugal is increasing. ⋯ This paper is limited by the lack of comprehensive data on the private sector and on the number of professionals moving between the public and private sectors. These data are important for the planning and the decision-making process. Human resources policies, supported by an adequate health information system, are fundamental steps for the improvement of the performance of the healthcare system.