Weaving dialogues about interprofessionalism in healthcare: coordinators' and students' perspectives

Abstract

Objective: the aim of this study was to understand the perception of coordinators and students about the dimension of healthcare orientation from the perspective of interprofessional education in a federal public university in northeastern Brazil. Methodology: Analytical case study with a qualitative approach carried out with 22 students and 11 professors of Physical Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Phonoaudiology, Medicine, Nutrition, Dentistry, Psychology, Social Work and Occupational Therapy of a Federal Higher Education Institution, through interviews with semi-structured scripts. The interviews were transcribed, sent to the respondents for checking, and submitted to content analysis. Results: Three categories emerged from the analysis: Understanding of interprofessionality in healthcare; Paths and opportunities for interprofessionality in healthcare; and Suggestions for the development of interprofessionality in healthcare. It was observed the understanding of the importance of the theme for professional training, the prominent role of extensions, interprofessional internships, and compulsory or elective disciplines, as well as reports on the difficulties of inserting interprofessional actions in the academic environment. Conclusion: Barriers to the implementation of Interprofessional Education (IPE) in undergraduate courses were signaled regarding academic workloads, as well as obstacles to providing space for improvement in the current curricular structure of the practices that are already present in professional training scenarios. Reflections and practical collaborative discussions about the need for flexibility and curriculum integration within and between healthcare courses are necessary for the pursuit of interprofessionality throughout the professional training path, fostering the focus of integral person-centered care in the academy and healthcare services.