Doctors’ perceptions on distance education and contribution of Family Health specialization

Abstract

This article is contextualized in the Brazilian More Doctors Program (PMM). It was aimed at understanding the perception of distance education and its contributions to health practices in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Through a qualitative approach and using a focus groups methodology, this study was conducted with the participation of PMM doctors and family health specialization course students of Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre. The results show that, although distance education is still a new topic for most of PMM professionals, it did not hinder the identification of potentialities in this teaching modality. It contributed to the education and qualification of these professionals’ daily practice, both in terms of their individual clinical performance and of teamwork.

Keywords: Primary healthcare; Distance education; Permanent health education.