Implementation of New Professional Roles in Catalonia’s Primary Care: Outcomes and Community Impact
Márcio Cristiano DE MELO, Hugo FERREIRA RODRIGUES, Cezanne DE ALMEIDA E BARBOSA, Iasser ALI MAHMOUD AYOUB, Elizabandh Regina DE MELO CABRAL, Naila Albertina DE OLIVEIRA, Jucilene CASATI LODI, Lia Maristela DA SILVA JACOB, Herla Maria FURTADO JORGE and Ana Carine ARRUDA ROLIM
Since 2022, Catalonia’s primary care system has incorporated new professional roles to strengthen multidisciplinary care: emotional well-being referents (psychologists), physiotherapists, dietitians-nutritionists, and dental hygienists. This initiative aims to improve population health and expand preventive and community-based services. Objective: To describe the implementation of these roles and assess their impact on group activities, community interventions, and social prescribing within the Catalan Health Institute.A descriptive analysis was conducted using data from the Primary Care Information System. Indicators included the number of group and community activities, participation rates, and selected health outcomes associated with interventions led by the new roles.Since its implementation, there has been a notable increase in group activities compared to the pre-pandemic period. Likewise, community activities and social prescribing have experienced significant growth. Individuals supported by emotional well-being professionals show improvements in anxiety symptoms and quality of life, while patients with chronic low back pain demonstrate progress in functional tests. Physiotherapy interventions help reduce pain and improve mobility, and dietary programs promote metabolic control and weight reduction in at-risk populations.The incorporation of these roles has transformed primary care in Catalonia, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and strengthening community health strategies.The increase in group and community activities reflects a shift toward proactive, preventive care models.New professional roles have expanded care capacity, improved health outcomes, and promoted community engagement. Continuous monitoring will be key to ensuring sustainability and guiding future scaling.
