Medical student’s perceptions of community-based learning experience in a primary care medical program: a focus-group analysis.

Abstract

Community-based learning is one of the foundations of preparing future professionals to work in health services and allows extensive training to act in various levels of health care. In Brazil, The establishment of the “Mais Médicos” Program allowed distribution of professionals in areas with greater need and changes in primary care work processes. In 2015, the course of medicine at the Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP) started students insertion activities in health teams with professionals of the Program. This study aimed to identify the perceptions of medical students on the learning experience in the community while following-up family health teams of the Program. A qualitative research was conducted through focus-group technique with fourth graders volunteers from medical school. Students had positive perceptions about the performance of doctors, mainly reagarding the doctor-patient relationship and holistic care. However, it was identified the need to update primary care to brazilian protocols. Students had their preconceived view of the low professional quality of the program changed and began to best accept the experience. The observation of the structural reality of health centers was considered an important cause to make doctors avoid working in the coutryside or isolated regions. These findings help to deepen the discussions on medical provision policies and their interaction with teaching. Neverthless, further studies need to be encouraged to evaluate other aspects and impacts caused by this type of program.