[Distribution of time spent by nurses in primary health care teams]

The time nurses spend on two activities is measured; one being the time spent in consulting offices by Primary Assistance Health Care Team members; and the second being the total time dedicated to house calls. This distribution time study has three focuses: observational, cross-sectional and descriptive. This study showed that more than one fourth of a nurse's time is spent carrying out technical procedures on patients, another fourth part is used filling out administrative documents, another fourth part corresponds to preventative medicine and health education activities, all of which leaves very little time for an independent professional role as compared to an interdependent role.