Social representations of the patients in the care provided by students

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed at the knowledge of the social representations on the perception of the patients in the care provided by students as well as the identification of the difference between the service rendered by the students and by the professionals. Methods: This is an exploratory-descriptive study with a qualitative approach. The data have been analyzed according to the Collective Subject Discourse technique. Results: 30 individual interviews have been made, being 50% with males, aged between 19 and 77 years old, 66,6% married and with low school background (on average 4 years of study). The study showed that the presence of the student has been evaluated positively and that the patient values the personalization of the care, leaving technical skills to a second moment. They also identify the professor as the responsible for the assistance. Conclusion: The study reinforces the idea that the relationship student patient shall be oriented by the respect and by the ethics and that this view shall be incorporated to the formation process of the student.