Clinical teaching in community health services

Abstract

Moving undergraduate clinical teaching from university hospitals to communitybased services is currently accepted as a strong trend in Medical Education. The main purpose of this change is to build a new model of medical action, which is though to be more suitable to public needs. Community-oriented clinical teaching is justifiable not only as the basis of this new model, but also on educational grounds, since it is thought to have many potencial advantages regarding student learning. There are, however, several cultural factors opposing the acceptance of community-oriented clinical teaching within medical schools. Also, the implementation of the relevant student activities is made difficult by a number of practical reasons. Breaking barriers and overcoming difficulties is a complex task, which should involve medical schools as well as the government and medical councils and associations. Effective actions in support of communitybased clinical teaching must include the strenghtening of the national health system and the valorization of physician’s work in community services.