Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze professional training in multiprofessional health residency programs (MHRPs) in primary care from the perspective of residents from 20 programs who had completed residency in the period 2015-2019. We undertook a cross-sectional study analyzing criteria in the dimensions Pedagogical Approach and In-Service Education Settings responded using a 10-point Likert scale. The study sample consisted of 365 graduates from MHRPs in 12 Brazilian states. The highest-scoring criteria in the dimension Pedagogical Approach (Cronbach’s α=0.94) were broad concept of care and professional training oriented towards comprehensive care (P50=10). The lowest scoring criteria were those involving preceptorship (P50=7). With regard to the In-Service Education Settings dimension (Cronbach’s α=0.90), the main strength was group educational activities (P50=9) and the main weaknesses were adequacy of the physical structure of health facilities (P50=6), participation of residents in local health committees (P50=6), and coordination with medical residency programs (P50=5). The findings show that professional training in MHRPs is aligned with the principles and guidelines underpinning Brazil’s public health system, with emphasis on comprehensiveness and prevention. However, efforts are needed to improve preceptor training and address weaknesses in practice settings.

Key words:
Postgraduate Education; Nonmedical Internship; Primary Health Care; Human resource training

Introduction

Health residency programs (HRPs) are distributed throughout the country, providing specialist training for health professionals in both uniprofessional and multiprofessional modalities¹1 Torres RBS, Barreto ICHC, Freitas RWJF, Evangelista ALP. Estado da arte das residências integradas, multiprofissionais e em área profissional da Saúde. Interface (Botucatu) 2019; 23:e170691.. In essence, these programs constitute in-service education aimed at providing high quality training to professionals working in the country’s public health system, the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) or Unified Health System, through work processes developed in local and regional settings, focusing on priority areas²2 Bernardo MS, Fabrizzio GC, Souza ML, Santos TO, Andrade SR. Training and work process in Multiprofessional Residency in Health as innovative strategy. Rev Bras Enferm 2020; 73(6):e20190635.. The subject-based training logic is replaced by the promotion of real-life training settings linked to the social context, where learning is based on experiences in the health facility and local community³3 Machado LDS, Tamboril ACR, Machado MFAS, Maia ER, Lopes MSV. Representations of resident professionals regarding the pedagogical strategies used in the multiprofessional residency training process. Rev Esc Enferm USP 2018; 52:e03386..

From an operational point of view, the typical minimum HRP course load is 5,760 hours spread out over at least two years, 80% of which is practical or theory-practice and 20% theory⁴4 Brasil. Ministério da Educação (MEC). Secretaria de Educação Superior. Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional. Resolução nº 5, de 7 de novembro de 2014. Dispõe sobre a duração e a carga horária dos programas de Residência em Área Profissional da Saúde nas modalidades multiprofissional e uniprofissional e sobre a avaliação e a frequência dos profissionais da saúde. Diário Oficial da União 2014; 20 nov.. The multiprofessional modality is unique in that students from various professions learn together as a team in a specific core area, each focusing on the skills and competencies relevant to their profession⁵5 Brasil. Ministério da Educação (MEC). Secretaria de Educação Superior. Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional. Resolução CNRMS nº 2, de 13 de abril de 2012. Dispõe sobre Diretrizes Gerais para os Programas de Residência Multiprofissional e em Profissional de Saúde. Diário Oficial da União 2012; 16 abr..

HRP core areas may be developed across the three levels of complexity in the SUS, following the priority areas established by the technical chambers of the National Commission on Multiprofessional Health Residency: 1 - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support, Clinical and Surgical Specialties; 2 - Intensive, Urgent and Emergency Care; 3 - Primary Care, Family and Community Health, Public Health; 4 - Mental Health; 5 - Functional Health; and 6 - Animal and Environmental Health⁶6 Brasil. Ministério da Educação (MEC). Secretaria de Educação Superior. Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional. Resolução CNRMS nº 1, de 30 de janeiro de 2012. Institui as Câmaras Técnicas da Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União 2012, 31 jan.. However, there is consensus on the need to support professional training in primary care, especially the Family Health Strategy⁷7 Rebelatto JR, Michel JLM. Residencies in federal hospitals: incorporation of physical therapy in the system. Rev Bras Fisioter 2012; 16(3):v-vi.^,88 Rosa SD, Lopes RE. Residência multiprofissional em saúde e pós-graduação lato sensu no Brasil: apontamentos históricos. Trab Educ Saude 2009; 7(3):479-498..

A systematic review of the literature on training in multiprofessional health residency programs (MHRPs) in primary care and/or family health in Brazil showed that articles focused on the specific characteristics of individual programs⁹9 Flor TBM, Cirilo ET, Lima RRT, Sette-de-Souza PH, Noro LRA. Formação na Residência Multiprofissional em Atenção Básica: revisão sistemática da literatura. Cien Saude Colet 2022; 27(3): 921-936., revealing the need to extend the analysis beyond the boundaries of single programs. This need is corroborated by the lack of in-situ evaluations of current programs¹⁰10 Oshima AMMY, Besegato JF, Lima CV, Noronha MDS, Hoeppner MG, Caldarelli PG. Perfil, atuação e satisfação de cirurgiões-dentistas em Residências Multiprofissionais em Saúde da região Sul do Brasil. Rev ABENO 2018; 18(1):134-145..

In light of the above, the aim of the present study was to analyze training in MHRPs in primary care in Brazil, focusing on pedagogical approaches and in-service education settings based on the views of students who completed residency in the period 2015-2019.

Method

We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study with students who completed MHRPs in primary care and/or family health between 2015-2019. We included programs run by public higher education institutions, public health schools, and government schools, resulting in 37 eligible programs after screening. A total of 21 MHRPs representing all of Brazil’s major regions agreed to participate, providing a list of 1,159 students who completed residency during the study period.

The residents were invited to participate in the study by email with an attached questionnaire created using Google forms structured into three dimensions within a criteria matrix: 1 - Personal Motivation; 2 - Pedagogical Approach; and 3 - In-Service Education Settings. Each dimension was divided into subdimensions answered on a 10-point Likert scale¹¹11 Curado MAS, Teles JMV, Marôco J. Análise estatística de escalas ordinais. Aplicações na Área da Saúde Infantil e Pediatria. Enferm Global 2013; 30:446-457. ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree). The criteria matrix was previously validated using the Delphi technique. The data were collected between June and September 2020. The methodology has been described in a previous study¹²12 Flor TBM, Miranda NM, Marinho CSR, Pinheiro JMF, Sette-de-Souza PH, Noro LRA. Inserção de egressos de Programas de Residência Multiprofissional no SUS. Rev Saude Publica 2021; 55:88..

A total of 365 residents responded the questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of (31.5%), which is above the expected rate for email surveys (25%)¹³13 Marconi MA, Lakatos EM. Fundamentos de metodologia científica. 5ª ed. São Paulo: Atlas; 2003.. Based on the “n” obtained, the sample size necessary for estimating a population proportion of a small finite population, 95% confidence interval, 5% sampling error, and 50% sample proportion, the number of respondents is deemed to be representative¹⁴14 Luiz RR, Magnanini MMF. O Tamanho da Amostra em Investigações Epidemiológicas. In: Medronho RA, Block KV, Luiz RR, Werneck GL, editores. Epidemiologia. 2ª ed. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2009. p. 415-427..

The following variables were used to characterize the MHRPs: program setting (practice setting), year of completion of the residency program, and type of end-of-residency project. An exploratory analysis of training in the MHRPs was performed using the criteria proposed in the Pedagogical Approach and In-Service Education Settings dimensions. The Pedagogical Approach dimension consists of the following subdimensions totaling 18 criteria: Pedagogical Methodologies; Pedagogical Plan; Conditions Necessary for the Higher Education Institution to Offer the Residency Program; and Actors Responsible for the Teaching-Learning-Work Process. The In-Service Education Settings dimension is made up of the following subdimensions totaling 13 criteria: Health Care Facility Infrastructure; Residency Activities with Patients, Services and Practice Settings; Coordination of Multiprofessional Residency Activities with other Course Activities.

The criteria were classified as ordinal qualitative variables. The relevant literature suggests that this type of variable should be treated as an interval variable only if the data follow a normal distribution¹¹11 Curado MAS, Teles JMV, Marôco J. Análise estatística de escalas ordinais. Aplicações na Área da Saúde Infantil e Pediatria. Enferm Global 2013; 30:446-457.. The results of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that the data were not normally distributed and therefore the ordinal data were analyzed using positioning measurements. The internal consistency of the criteria for each dimension was determined using Cronbach’s alpha, which ranges from 0 to 1, where 1 indicates maximum internal consistency¹⁵15 Martínez-González MA, Toledo E, Sánchez-Villegas A. Análisis de concordancia, validez e pronóstico. In: Martínez-González MA, Sánchez-Villegas A, Atucha EAT, Fajardo JF, editores. Bioestadística amigable. 3ª ed. Barcelona: Elsevier; 2014. p. 455-485.. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS.

The study protocol was approved by the Onofre Lopes University Hospital’s research ethics committee: codes 3.744.514 and 3.829.247 (amendment 1) and 3.898.156 (amendment 2). The protocol was also approved by the participating institutions’ ethics committees. All participants signed an online informed consent form. Participants were only able to access the questionnaire after signing the form on the understanding that they could withdraw freely at any stage of the study.

Results

A total of 365 outgoing residents from 20 MHRPs in 12 states participated in the study. Table 1 shows that the proportion of responses received and number of respondents from each program are similar. The year of completion of the residency program was similar across the programs, with 50% of respondents completing the residency in the last two years of the study period (Table 1).

Thirty per cent of the 20 programs (6) developed activities in state capitals, 65% (13) in smaller towns and cities, and 5% (1) in both settings.

The main type of end-of-residency project undertaken by the residents was scientific article (66.8%), followed by thesis (27.5%) and other (5.7%).

The highest-scoring subdimensions of the Pedagogical Approach dimension were Methodologies and Pedagogical Project, whose criteria obtained median scores of 9 or 10. The highest-scoring criteria were concept of care and training oriented towards comprehensive care, with at least 50% of respondents selecting the option “strongly agree”. With regard to the actors involved in the training process, at least 25% of respondents selected 5 or under on the agree-disagree scale for the items referring to preceptors (Table 2).

Weaknesses were revealed in the dimension In-Service Education Settings, especially in relation to coordination with medical residency programs (P50=5) and other HRPs (P50=6), enough physical space in health facilities (P50=6), and patient integration in health councils (P50=6). Patient integration through group educational activities (P50=9) and satisfaction with training in practice settings (P50=8) were rated positively (Table 3).

The internal consistency of the criteria proposed in each dimension was very satisfactory (Cronbach’s alpha 0.94 for Pedagogical Approach and 0.90 for In-Service Education Settings) (Tables 2 and 3).

Discussion

Training in MHRPs is an innovative teaching and learning strategy²2 Bernardo MS, Fabrizzio GC, Souza ML, Santos TO, Andrade SR. Training and work process in Multiprofessional Residency in Health as innovative strategy. Rev Bras Enferm 2020; 73(6):e20190635., presenting an alternative to traditional health professional training, which has historically adopted a uniprofessional approach, leading to the fragmentation of professional relationships and signaling the need to review the model¹⁶16 Costa MV, Freire Filho JR, Brandão C, Silva JAM. A Educação e o trabalho interprofissional alinhados ao compromisso histórico de fortalecimento e consolidação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Interface (Botucatu) 2018; 22(Supl. 2):1507-1510.. Considering current health work challenges posed by changes in epidemiological and demographic profiles, the resurgence of eradicated diseases, and the effects of social inequality on patterns of morbidity and mortality¹⁶16 Costa MV, Freire Filho JR, Brandão C, Silva JAM. A Educação e o trabalho interprofissional alinhados ao compromisso histórico de fortalecimento e consolidação do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Interface (Botucatu) 2018; 22(Supl. 2):1507-1510., the present study provides important insights into training in MHRPs in primary care.

Before addressing the findings, it is important to highlight the capillarity of the programs analyzed by this study, with more than half developing their practical activities in small towns and cities outside state capitals. This is an important finding given the well-known difficulty services experience in attracting and retaining health professionals in remote rural areas¹⁷17 Portela GZ, Fehn AC, Ungerer RLS, Poz MRD. Recursos humanos em saúde: crise global e cooperação internacional. Cien Saude Colet 2017; 22(7):2237-2246.. This is probably one of the impacts of the Support Program for Federal University Restructuring and Expansion Plans, which has increased the provision of courses by public universities in areas isolated from large urban centers, resulting in the consolidation of campuses and creation of postgraduate and residency programs¹⁸18 Pierantoni CR, Magnago C, Vieira SP, Ney MS, Miranda RG, Girardi SN. Graduação em saúde: oferta e estratégias para o fortalecimento da regionalização do Sistema Único de Saúde. Cad Saude Publica 2019; 35(Supl. 2):e00066018.. Given the potential MHRPs have for promoting the retention of professionals in underserved regions¹⁹19 Sarmento LF, França T, Medeiros KR, Santos MR, Ney MS. A distribuição regional da oferta de formação na modalidade Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde. Saude Debate 2017; 41(113):415-424., the distribution of programs identified in this study may contribute to a reduction in inequalities in the provision of professional training.

The end-of-residency project is a mandatory requirement for certification in a specialty²⁰20 Vale AP, Vasconcelos APM, Torres ACS, Frota AC. Trabalho de conclusão. In: Ceccim RB, Dallegrave D, Amorim ASL, Portes VM, Amaral BP, organizadores. EnSiQlopédia das Residências em Saúde [Internet]. Porto Alegre: Rede Unida; 2018 [acessado 2020 ago 16]. p. 276-280. Disponível em: http://historico.redeunida.org.br/editora/biblioteca-digital/serie-vivencias-em-educacao-na-saude/ensiqlopedia-das-residencias-em-saude-pdf. Although the present study showed that the main type of end-of-residency project undertaken by the residents was the production of a scientific article, a review of the literature on MHRPs showed that few studies published by residents address their experiences during residency programs²¹21 Silva CA, Dalbello-Araujo M. Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde: o que mostram as publicações. Saude Debate 2019; 43(123):1240-1258.. On the other hand, Vale et al.²⁰20 Vale AP, Vasconcelos APM, Torres ACS, Frota AC. Trabalho de conclusão. In: Ceccim RB, Dallegrave D, Amorim ASL, Portes VM, Amaral BP, organizadores. EnSiQlopédia das Residências em Saúde [Internet]. Porto Alegre: Rede Unida; 2018 [acessado 2020 ago 16]. p. 276-280. Disponível em: http://historico.redeunida.org.br/editora/biblioteca-digital/serie-vivencias-em-educacao-na-saude/ensiqlopedia-das-residencias-em-saude-pdf draw attention to the wide range of different types end-of-residency projects, including science, technological and audio/visual-based products, depending on the specific rules and regulations of each program. The dissemination of experiences gained in end-of-residency projects is important. However, given the ever-increasing demands of scientific journals, it is likely that residents will face difficulty publishing, especially with works that take a more alternative approach.

The criteria of the subdimensions Pedagogical Methodologies and Pedagogical Plan (Pedagogical Approach dimension) were highly rated by residents. The positive evaluation of the Pedagogical Methodologies criteria reveals an important dialogue between MHRPs and permanent health education, which consists of an ongoing process of on-the-job learning, promoting reflection and changes in practices²²22 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Secretaria de Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação na Saúde. Departamento de Gestão da Educação na Saúde. Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde: o que se tem produzido para o seu fortalecimento? Brasília: MS; 2018.. In addition, interprofessional education contributes to the training of professionals who are better prepared for collaborative practice and effective team work²³23 Freire Filho JR, Silva CBG, Costa MV, Forster AC. Educação Interprofissional nas políticas de reorientação da formação profissional em saúde no Brasil. Saude Debate 2019; 43(n. esp. 1):86-96.. From this perspective, interprofessional education to essential to strengthening the pivotal role Family Health Strategy plays in organizing primary care in Brazil, insofar as it incorporates various professions working together as a team²²22 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Secretaria de Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação na Saúde. Departamento de Gestão da Educação na Saúde. Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde: o que se tem produzido para o seu fortalecimento? Brasília: MS; 2018..

The scores for the Pedagogical Plan criteria reveal that the programs are aligned with the underlying principles and guidelines of the SUS and care practices recommended in the National Primary Care Policy (PNAB)²⁴24 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Portaria nº 2.436, de 21 de setembro de 2017. Aprova a Política Nacional de Atenção Básica, estabelecendo a revisão de diretrizes para a organização da Atenção Básica, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Diário Oficial da União 2017, 22 set.. This is corroborated by a study investigating training for psychologists in a MHRP in primary care. The findings show that the course’s pedagogical plan offers residents the opportunity to understand and enhance training committed to defending the SUS²⁵25 Gomes ER, Heberle AM, Maximo CE, Manske GS. Psicólogos na Residência Multiprofissional em Atenção Básica: estudo a partir de documentos e sujeitos. Rev Saude Pesqui 2017; 10(2):271-282.. The respondents of the present study also confirmed that the programs showed coherence between theory and practice, which is reinforced by the findings of a reflexive study undertaken by Bernardo et al.²2 Bernardo MS, Fabrizzio GC, Souza ML, Santos TO, Andrade SR. Training and work process in Multiprofessional Residency in Health as innovative strategy. Rev Bras Enferm 2020; 73(6):e20190635..

The three criteria of the subdimension Conditions Necessary for the Higher Education Institution to Offer the Residency Program received the same score, raising a number of questions. Given that 80% of the residency is in-service training⁴4 Brasil. Ministério da Educação (MEC). Secretaria de Educação Superior. Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional. Resolução nº 5, de 7 de novembro de 2014. Dispõe sobre a duração e a carga horária dos programas de Residência em Área Profissional da Saúde nas modalidades multiprofissional e uniprofissional e sobre a avaliação e a frequência dos profissionais da saúde. Diário Oficial da União 2014; 20 nov., it is possible that the services are distant from the higher education institutions offering the programs, resulting in difficulty accessing the institution’s physical infrastructure and support materials and equipment during the residency. One of the limitations of the present study is that it did not include programs proposed by local government health departments and private education institutions. However, given its pioneering nature, this study makes an important contribution to existing knowledge about training in MHRPs, outweighing this limitation.

With regard to the actors involved in the teaching-learning-work process, the findings indicate possible weaknesses in the performance of preceptors and tutors in comparison to teachers. According to Ribeiro et al.²⁶26 Ribeiro KRB, Prado ML, Backes VMS, Mendes NPN, Mororó DDS. Ensino nas residências em saúde: conhecimento dos preceptores sob análise de Shulman. Rev Bras Enferm 2020; 73(4):e20180779., preceptors are professionals who provide on-the-job-training, playing the role of educator, and should therefore have the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfil this role. However, a literature review of training in MHRPs in primary care and/or family health identified weaknesses in preceptorship and tutoring⁹9 Flor TBM, Cirilo ET, Lima RRT, Sette-de-Souza PH, Noro LRA. Formação na Residência Multiprofissional em Atenção Básica: revisão sistemática da literatura. Cien Saude Colet 2022; 27(3): 921-936.. Santos Filho et al.²⁷27 Santos Filho EJ, Sampaio J, Braga LAV. Avaliação de um programa de residência multiprofissional em saúde da família e comunidade sob o olhar dos residentes. Tempus Actas Saude Colet 2016; 10(4):129-149. highlighted a possible reason for this situation, showing that preceptors and tutors often only receive training during the preceptorship. In addition, studies indicate that, as professionals working in the health facility, preceptors and tutors do not have time set aside in their work schedule for planning teaching activities²¹21 Silva CA, Dalbello-Araujo M. Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde: o que mostram as publicações. Saude Debate 2019; 43(123):1240-1258.^,2828 Girotto LC, Enns SC, Oliveira MS, Mayer FB, Perotta B, Santos IS, Tempski P. Preceptors' perception of their role as educators and professionals in a health system. BMC Med Educ 2019; 19(1):203.^,2929 Silva LS, Natal S. Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde: análise da implantação de dois programas pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Trab Educ Saude 2019; 17(3):e0022050.. This was one of the issues raised by residents and teachers in the IX National Meeting of Health Residencies³⁰30 Carta de Natal. Do sertão ao mar seremos resistência: Residências em defesa da vida. In: IX Encontro Nacional de Residências em Saúde; 2019 out 13-16..

It is therefore essential that higher education institutions provide training for the professionals working in the facilities in preceptorship³¹31 Ferreira FC, Dantas FC, Valente GSC. Saberes e competências do enfermeiro para a preceptoria em unidade básica de saúde. Rev Bras Enferm 2018; 71(Supl. 4):1657-1665.. An important initiative in this area is the Specialist Training Course in Health Preceptorship offered by Rio Grande do Norte Federal University’s Laboratory of Technological Innovation in Health via the SUS’s online learning platform AVASUS, which has trained more than 2,000 preceptors from across the country³²32 Cruz D. Especialização em preceptoria do Lais e Ebserh atende profissionais de todo o país [Internet]. 2020 [acessado 2020 ago 16]. Disponível em: https://ufrn.br/imprensa/noticias/38982/especializacao-em-preceptoria-do-lais-e-ebserh-atende-profissionais-de-todo-o-pais.
https://ufrn.br/imprensa/noticias/38982/... .

The scores for the In-Service Education Settings criteria reveal important weaknesses in the physical structure of health facilities, involving residents more actively in public participation, and integration with other residency programs.

According to the PNAB, all basic health units are considered potential professional training and in-service teaching settings and spaces for research and innovation for the SUS²⁴24 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Portaria nº 2.436, de 21 de setembro de 2017. Aprova a Política Nacional de Atenção Básica, estabelecendo a revisão de diretrizes para a organização da Atenção Básica, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Diário Oficial da União 2017, 22 set.. However, it is possible that the planning of the physical structure of these units fails to take into account in-service teaching activities, meaning that these settings are often inadequate for the combined activities of professionals, undergraduate students, and residents. In addition, it is important to highlight that MHRPs in primary care often include professions that are not part of the Family Health Strategy team, requiring the provision of the necessary apparatus for the development of professional activities in Primary Care.

The high rating obtained by the criteria patient integration through group educational activities (subdimension Residency Activities with Patients, Services and Practice Settings) reinforces the concept of comprehensive care highlighted above, suggesting the active involvement of residents in preventive activities. With regard to the integration of MHRP activities with other services, Silva and Dalbello-Araújo²¹21 Silva CA, Dalbello-Araujo M. Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde: o que mostram as publicações. Saude Debate 2019; 43(123):1240-1258. highlight that the movement of residents through the different institutions that make up the health care network is an important contribution of these programs. This experience is particularly significant because it helps residents understand patient flows, contributing to the effective delivery of comprehensive resolutive care. With regard to engagement in spaces of public participation, although residents understand that greater attention should be paid to public participation in residency training, the findings reveal the need to consider the time spent traveling to and from these spaces to develop activities³⁰30 Carta de Natal. Do sertão ao mar seremos resistência: Residências em defesa da vida. In: IX Encontro Nacional de Residências em Saúde; 2019 out 13-16..

The subdimension Coordination of Multiprofessional Residency Activities with other Course Activities highlighted weaknesses in coordination with medical residency programs. This finding is supported by what the literature calls “professional silos” or “professional tribalism”, referring to the tendency to emphasize the development of specific competencies separately from other professions²³23 Freire Filho JR, Silva CBG, Costa MV, Forster AC. Educação Interprofissional nas políticas de reorientação da formação profissional em saúde no Brasil. Saude Debate 2019; 43(n. esp. 1):86-96.. While MHRPs envisage integration with medical residency programs⁵5 Brasil. Ministério da Educação (MEC). Secretaria de Educação Superior. Comissão Nacional de Residência Multiprofissional. Resolução CNRMS nº 2, de 13 de abril de 2012. Dispõe sobre Diretrizes Gerais para os Programas de Residência Multiprofissional e em Profissional de Saúde. Diário Oficial da União 2012; 16 abr., this was the lowest-scoring criteria in the present study, showing that integration is far from sufficient. However, the literature highlights some initiatives in this area³³33 Motta LB, Pacheco LC. Integrating Medical and Health Multiprofessional Residency Programs: The experience in building an interprofessional curriculum for health professionals in Brazil. Educ Health 2014; 27(1):83-88.^,3434 Pinho LMG, Garcia VL, Nogueira-Martins MCF. Implantação da Residência Médica e Multiprofissional em Saúde da Família em um município paulista: percepção de residentes da primeira turma (2014-2016). Rev Bras Pesqui Saude 2018; 20(1):23-31., demonstrating that, albeit challenging, integration is possible.

Finally, it is important to highlight that, despite in-service training challenges, the respondents showed satisfaction with the training received in the practice settings. This leads us to believe that the experiences and lessons learned outweigh the problems.

A second study limitation is the sampling method. Given the limited and dispersed study population, we opted to invite all eligible outgoing residents and interview those who agreed to participate. However, the proportion of the respondents across the programs is very similar to the overall proportions among outgoing residents, showing that the method did not compromise study findings or result in bias.

Conclusion

Our findings show that training in MHRPs in primary care is aligned with current health demands, focusing on comprehensiveness and prevention, despite the fact that practice settings do not possess the ideal conditions for training, both in terms of structure and staffing. Despite weaknesses, the satisfaction of outgoing residents with training demonstrates that meaningful learning outweighs the obstacles.

Intrinsically linked to the SUS, the guiding thread of MHRPs is commitment to addressing social realities and the ongoing development of an interprofessional approach, underpinned by a critical and reflexive pedagogical model and working together in a team. Although these principles are clearly set out in undergraduate curriculum guidelines, they remain weakly implemented in practice in the majority of programs. It is also worth emphasizing that the development of MHRPs in primary care in higher education institutions outside state capitals has contributed to the permanent education of professionals working in underserved regions and the strengthening of care delivery.

Core problems include the role played by preceptors, with findings signaling the need to focus more attention on training throughout the course of the degree, and poor operating conditions in health facilities, which may be aggravated by the current dismantling of the SUS. It is also important to highlight the challenge of involving residents, tutors, and preceptors more actively in public participation by building the capacity of and/or participating in local health committees.

Possible pathways to addressing these weaknesses include the adoption of measures focusing on the qualification and integration of actors involved in the teaching-learning-work process, studying ways of promoting coordination between MHRPs and other residency programs, and planning to address the problems experienced in practice settings within current governance structures.

References

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History