Letters fair: integrating regionalization, health promotion and management in a playful and interactive activity

Abstract

Introduction:

Medical education, through active methodologies, provides the teaching and integrated application of Collective Health concepts, such as Regionalization, Health Promotion and Management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the need for adaptations in teaching methods to maintain the quality of learning, the Collective Health Module III of the undergraduate medical course implemented the remote activity “Virtual Fair of Health Promotion Letters”, which provided the development of important skills. Thus, the aim of this report is to expose the theoretical teaching and the integrated practical application of the concepts and principles of health promotion, regionalization and health management, which are important in the study of Collective Health, through this remote learning activity.

Experience report:

The activity “Virtual Fair of Health Promotion Letters”, developed in the third term, had 4 stages. Stage zero consisted of a synchronous meeting for the teachers to explain the other stages and the development of the activity to the students. The first stage included reading the “Health Promotion Letters” and making a feasible, executable and applicable product or action to present at the Fair. The second part consisted of each team managing fictitious resources, considering the quality and needs of the products offered at the fair. The final stage was an evaluation based on feedback between teachers and students.

Discussion:

Through this dynamic, the students deepened their knowledge about the “Health Promotion Letters” and were able to apply the guidelines of the Unified Health System (SUS) in a broader, globalised context. Students enhanced their management and creativity skills, although some limitations were observed, such as the lack of more comprehensive knowledge about “Health management”, which could have improved their performance during the activity.

Conclusion:

The students were able to play an active role in the construction of knowledge throughout the process, developing essential skills for professional practice. The activity, in a playful way, provided the integration of several concepts in Collective Health; representing an example of how medical education can act in an integrative and practical way.

Keywords:
Medical Education; Regional Health Planning; Health Promotion; COVID-19; Distance learning