Specialization training courses on family health: What can training change in the work?

Abstract

The persistence of bio-medically oriented practices and the mismatch between training and work are identified as the challenges for the rolling out of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Brazil. This paper analyzes work changes in PHC after following specialization level training courses on community and family health, from the point of view of the trained professionals. It is a qualitative study carried on from 2011 to 2013 in the Federal District (DF) involving doctors, nurses and dentists. Data was collected with the use of digital questionnaires, semistructured interviews and focal groups. From the thematic content analysis, two categories emerged: “a universe of knowledge has opened up” and a “new way of doing things in an adverse working environment”. The context of the PHC in DF is a constraint but the training had the potential to generate professional competences.