The adoption of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) as a model for reorientation of primary care has demanded a new kind of medical professional. Our study aims to analyze undergraduate medical training in terms of developing the actions required by the FHS, and to identify gaps in undergraduate training. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 resident-doctors of Family and Community Medicine at health centers in Fortaleza-CE between September and December 2007, and their statements were categorized and assessed using the content analysis method. We observed that changes are already occurring in medical training, with many gaps still to be filled, and that new curricula more focused on primary care have allowed doctors to feel more prepared to act in the FHS, in contrast to the graduates in former curricula.
Family and Community Medicine; Family Health Strategy; Medical Graduation; Medical Education