PROJECT FOR TRAINING GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The aim of this work is to present a demonstrative project for general practitioners (GPs) advanced training on the risky problems, related to air pollution and health. For the project implementation we chose the second largest city in Bulgaria typical urban environment. To participate in the project we invited GPs from 10 practices, located in densely populated areas. Our project has the next stages: (i) development of research instruments; (ii) conducting a pilot study to analyse the health status of the served by selected practices populations; (iii) establishment of a virtual center and multi-institutional network to conduct further training with the inclusion of study-participating GPs; (iv) evaluation and dissemination of the results of the implemented project activities, multiplying the impact and ensuring sustainability. The first national demonstrative project of this kind has the following characteristics a multi-institutional system is to be formed, consisting of the academic community, experts working for the National Environment Research Agency and general practitioners, which jointly, on the basis of the scientific and research work, will provide advanced training on the risky problems related to health and ecology.