Continuity of care and Family Physician training: How to reconcile?

Abstract

Introduction: Longitudinality is an essential attribute of Primary Health Care and must be assimilated during the training of family and community doctors. During medical residency, changing residents during care can be an obstacle to your development. Objective: To understand how patient longitudinality is perceived by residents and preceptors of a family and community medicine residency program in a Brazilian capital. Methods: Qualitative research was carried out with two focus groups with preceptors and program residents. After the groups were held, the statements were transcribed and categorized. The material was skimmed, examined and discussed through content analysis. Results: Among the main findings, the following were raised: the role of the preceptor's posture and his role as orchestrator of patient care, the use of medical records, as a way of describing care and planning, in maintaining longitudinality. The importance of passing cases between new and old residents was also included as a way of maintaining the attribute. Conclusions: It was observed that participants perceive that continuity of patient care can be maintained, even with the challenge posed by changing residents.