The Family Medicine specialist. Regularities in his professional development on rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Postgraduate education in Cuba fosters professional development in one of the specialties that has had the greatest impact on the national health system, Family Medicine (FM). The current research aims to identify the existing regularities in the professional development of FM specialists in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), at the Hermanos Cruz University Polyclinic in Pinar del Río. Methods: The dialectical-materialist method was assumed as a general method that allowed revealing the contradictions existing in the process of professional development of MF specialists regarding early diagnosis in patients with RA. In addition, theoretical, empirical and statistical-mathematical methods were used. Results: Theoretical and practical deficiencies were found in the knowledge of MF specialists regarding the identification of risk and protection factors, warning signs and educational pathways for the early diagnosis of RA, a limited development of skills for the application of general procedures and a limited conception of RA, which restricts the development of attitudes of commitment and awareness of the aspects that must be taken into account for the early diagnosis of the disease, which limits professional performance. Conclusions: The professional development of rheumatoid arthritis at the Hermanos Cruz University Polyclinic has limitations in integrating its content into an adequate early diagnosis, which hinders the efficient performance of Family Medicine specialists in Primary Health Care.