Training professionals to work in Primary Healthcare (PHC) in the Unified National Health System (SUS) has driven curricular changes and projects like the Educational Program for Health Work (PET-Saúde). With this perspective, in the Federal University in Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the course entitled "Methods for Approaching Community Health" (which discusses the SUS and gives students the opportunity to participate in activities under the Family Health Strategy) was shifted from the third to the first semester in 2008, and since 2009 it has been supported by the PET-Saúde project. In order to verify whether these changes had an impact on students' satisfaction with the course, this study focused on course assessment instruments during this semester transition period and since implementation of the PET-Saúde project. The answers from 339 students showed that interventions, especially early integration into health services in the first semester, were successful in improving students' opinions of the course. A good initial impression may be useful for a more positive opinion towards the National Health System among future professionals.
Educational Program for Health Work; Medical Education; Primary Health Care
