The results suggest that increased use of network resources and training are related to a positive attitude towards VWA in primary health professionals, both in Catalonia and Costa Rica.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the content of policies and action plans within the public healthcare system that addresses the issue of violence against women.METHODS A descriptive and comparative study was conducted on the health policies and plans in Catalonia and Costa Rica from 2005 to 2011. It uses a qualitative methodology with documentary analysis. It is classified by topics that describe and interpret the contents. We considered dimensions, such as principles, strategies, concepts concerning violence against women, health trends, and evaluations.RESULTS Thirteen public policy documents were analyzed. In both countries’ contexts, we have provided an overview of violence against women as a problem whose roots are in gender inequality. The strategies of gender policies that address violence against women are cultural exchange and institutional action within the public healthcare system. The actions of the healthcare sector are expanded into specific plans. The priorities and specificity of actions in healthcare plans were the distinguishing features between the two countries.CONCLUSIONS The common features of the healthcare plans in both the counties include violence against women, use of protocols, detection tasks, care and recovery for women, and professional self-care. Catalonia does not consider healthcare actions with aggressors. Costa Rica has a lower specificity in conceptualization and protocol patterns, as well as a lack of updates concerning health standards in Catalonia.

El objetivo es identificar las barreras y facilitadores en el abordaje de la violencia contra las mujeres desde la perspectiva de profesionales de la salud en dos contextos: Cataluña y Costa Rica.  Metodología: se trata de un estudio cualitativo comparativo realizado a través de dieciséis entrevistas con profesionales de distintas áreas de la salud con experiencia en violencia contra las mujeres.  Se realiza un análisis narrativo de contenido, se recurre a la codificación abierta, axial y selectiva.  Las categorías son mixtas, se identifican patrones comunes y diferenciales. Resultados: se muestran seis dimensiones que incluyen barreras y facilitadores para el abordaje de la violencia contra las mujeres en el ámbito de la salud. La barrera común es la falta de actividades de promoción y prevención, mientras que los facilitadores son varios: compartir un marco de referencia común sobre la violencia, el género y el paradigma de salud; reconocer a las personas que trabajan en la red de atención; el aprendizaje de nuevas habilidades; el interés y compromiso profesional, y las estrategias de autocuidado. Conclusiones: el conocimiento de los facilitadores y las barreras son útiles para la toma de decisiones para gestores, planificadores y profesionales de la salud que trabajan con las mujeres; la red de atención es un importante soporte para los profesionales asistenciales, y es necesario el trabajo en actividades de promoción y prevención.

There are some erroneous ideas about what a CPG is. If we want to implement CPGs, it is important to carry out some previous work presenting what a CPG is, what it is not and when it could be useful.