Medical education applied to practical settings in the first college years: Meanings given by photovoice

Abstract

Nowadays, medical education aims at introducing students to their study field since the first college years in order to prepare professionals for a comprehensive health care. The aim of the present study is to assess educational potential through immersion in mental health studies based on focus-group discussions and photovoice images. Six undergraduate students were encouraged to work with local medical equipment from 2017 to 2018. Two themes in accordance to relevant literature and to meanings given to the pictures were chosen, namely: Introduction to Health Care Practice and Medical Education in Action. The picture-taking experience, which was shared and discussed by the group, gave life to education; it took students closer to their humanity and to the humanity of others. Therefore, it ensured comprehensive healthcare.