Active Teaching-Learning Strategies for Family Medicine Preceptors in the EURACT

Abstract: Introduction: The Family Doctor (FD), whose scope of action is Primary Health Care (PHC), is a professional trained to care for people, their families, and communities. The best FD training should be performed through Medical Residency Programs in Family Medicine (MRPFM), an in-service teaching field where a preceptor, also a FD, accompanies the resident. A pedagogically well-trained preceptor can work in the learning process of young doctors, who in turn are able to develop the necessary skills to work as a future FD. Active Learning Methodologies (ALM) are based on critical pedagogy and work with problems for the development of teaching-learning processes. They seek the theory from the practice, thus preparing the students to become aware of their environment and act aiming at its transformation. ALMs are achieved in the pedagogical processes through Active Teaching-Learning Strategies (ATLS), which are effective pedagogical resources used by the preceptors in the residents’ daily training. They can be divided into two groups: Active Teaching-Learning Dynamics and Active Teaching Actions. This article reports on the effects of a training course for Family Medicine preceptors on the use of Active Teaching-Learning Dynamics and Active Teaching Actions. Method: Qualitative comparative case study using sociodemographic survey, individual semi structured interview and field notes. The information was examined under content analysis, having participated ten preceptors from four MRPFM from the state of São Paulo, Brazil (half having attended the Leonardo EURACT level 1 course and half not having done so). Results: Those preceptors who attended the course expressed having more knowledge and use of Active Teaching-Learning Strategies, specifically of Active Teaching-Learning Dynamics and Active Teaching Actions. Conclusions: It was observed that the Leonardo EURACT level 1 teaching technology modifies the teaching practice of those who took the course, as they demonstrate a greater use and domain of its tools in their pedagogical practice. Moreover, the course allows a greater understanding of the presented dynamics and activities, thus promoting the residents’ critical learning and encouraging autonomy.