INSTITUTIONALIZED AND COMMUNITY ELDERLY: THE MEDICAL STUDENT‘S VIEW ON LEARNING METHODS

INTRODUCTION - OBJECTIVES: The elderly population growth reflects improvements in health. By 2025, we will occupy the sixth place in elderly people on the planet. The Medical School of the University of Fortaleza, aiming to develop trained doctors to care of the elderly population, includes clinics and collective experiences in the curriculum. This paper aims to study the contribution of activities with elderly people in different environments in the training of medical students, to identify difficulties, facilitating aspects and the perception of students on learning. METHODS: quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study; UNIFOR medical school scenario; the population consisted of sophomore students enrolled in Integrated Actions in Health-III; sample of 47 students who answered questionnaire in June / 2014. RESULTS: 51% women; 49% men; 22,2 years old average. All hold important activities in the community and in long-stay institutions. In the community, 78% rated as very good and good; 21% reasonable. Difficulties were discomfort, noise, external interference (74%). Elderly people collaboration, appropriate time was positive for 50%. At the institution, 99% rated as very good and good; it was found lower percentage of difficulties (45%) and 12% said there wasn’t difficulty. The facilitating aspects were added in a satisfactory infrastructure, privacy, silence. CONCLUSION:Curricular Guidelines are understood and considered relevant for learning,confirming the importance of extracurricular activities. The results indicate good acceptance of the activities in both environments. Nevertheless, differences indicate the need for improvement in the community, seeking to construct strong links between students and community.