Social dimension in medical education: the context life in problem based learning

Abstract

This study characterizes the social dimension in the contexts represented in problem situations in a São Paulo state medical course that uses Problem-Based Learning. A total of 69 problem situations were analyzed, triggering the learning process from the first to the fourth grade and their respective tutor guides. To read the material, the Social Dimension Analysis Guide was used, developed by the researchers based on related documents and literature. For analysis, the discursive textual analysis method was adopted. The comparison between the learning objectives presented in the problem situations and in the guides showed disagreements and dichotomies. The characterization of the explored contexts did not portray the real territory: social equipment was scarcely addressed, but the areas of competence of individual, collective and management care placed a satisfactory emphasis on public policies. The analyzes of areas of risk, diversity and vulnerable groups were superficial and the intersectoral approach was little used. It is hoped, with these results, to provoke reflections about the construction of problem situations in problem-based learning, because the deepening of the description, such as the expansion of its approach, may favor the theoretical-practical articulation, the extended learning and the training medical care focused on comprehensive care.

medical education; curriculum; problem-based learning; social determinants of health; life conditions