Teaching-service integration in the fight against COVID-19

Abstract

This study analyzes the teaching-service integration as a strategy for Permanent Health Education against COVID-19, in healthcare services of the Municipal Health Department of João Pessoa, in the state of Paraiba (SMS/JP). This is an exploratory, comprehensive-interpretative study with a qualitative approach. The scenarios were the SMS/JP services, which carry out actions to combat COVID-19 and serve as practice spaces for educational institutions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, conducted with service managers, health professionals, residence coordinators, and residents. The analysis allowed us to identify the circumstances and adversities that arose during the period of agreements and renegotiations of practice scenarios during the pandemic. Also highlighting the contributions of the teaching-service integration to the qualification process of workers and students in the face of COVID-19 and the relationship with the needs of the services, from the qualification movements, elaboration of protocols, sheets, forms, and creation of discussion spaces. It was confirmed that teaching-service integration is a powerful permanent health education strategy, considering the articulation between service agents and educational institutions, provoking the development of a critical-reflective look at the service, boosting learning spaces, evolution, and growth.