Public health training from the viewpoint of undergraduate Speech Language and Hearing students at UFBA

Abstract

Introduction: Brazilian laws and educational guidelines intended to align professional health training with the context of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde: SUS) underpinned the 2009 Curricular Reform of the Speech Language and Hearing (SLH) Sciences course at the Federal University of Bahia(UFBA), promoting changes including the expansion of the mandatory Public Health components. Objective: to analyse the viewpoints of students on the SLH Sciences course at UFBA regarding undergraduate training in Public Health. Method: a case study of 22 students who took courses based on the new curriculum. An online Questionnaire and an Informed Consent Form were sent by e-mail to each participant. The data obtained were tabulated and analysed according to thematic content analysis. Results: The students described the challenges of the curriculum as: a lack of coordination between the fields of SLH Sciences and Public Health anda lack of coordination between the course and health services. Based on their experiences in non-mandatory activities, however, they also notedpotential changes to theirunderstanding of and approach to health-disease processes, which have begun to incorporate dimensions related to health services and social life. Conclusion: From the students’ point of view, it is necessary to expand linkages between the range of actors from higher education and health institutions,and to reflect active learning methodologies and arenas for interdisciplinary practices within the curriculum matrix. We suggest the construction of permanent curriculum evaluation processes and an examination of the viewpoints of others, such as teachers, managers, service professionals and community members, in order to overcome the conservative approach to teaching and learning.