Percepção de profissionais da área da saúde sobre a formação, atuação e satisfação em sua atividade docente

Abstract

This research was carried out for a Doctorate thesis of the Medicine and Health Sciences Post-Graduation Program of PUCRS in the Nephrology field and Health Science line of research. Its objective was to understand the perception of health professionals regarding their education, performance, and satisfaction as professors. This is an exploratory, descriptive and prospective study with quantitative and qualitative analysis. The sample is composed of professors of ten graduation courses in the health field (Biomedicine, Physical Education (Bachelor), Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Nutrition, Psychology, Social Service and Occupational Therapy) of a private higher education institution in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). From a total of 120 professors invited to participate, 85 accepted. For data collection, a structured questionnaire with open and closed questions about teacher education was elaborated, made available in an electronic address, and sent through e-mail to the participants using Qualtrics tool. Data was collected in the period between 22 May and 31 July 2014. The beginning of data collection happened after the approval of the research project by the Ethics and Research Committee of the proponent and its co-partner institution. The participants – aged 25 to 60 years old – were mostly postgraduated women, lato or stricto sensu. The results show how important it is for health professionals who teach to seek qualification for this activity, which requires pedagogical knowledge and specific competences. The majority of the participants (72%) worked for more than five years in a specific area of health, 62% have worked for more than five years in a health area and have also taught, and 65% still work in their specific area of health and teach. The experience of the participants in their specific health fields influences their practice as teachers by enriching it as well giving these professionals more confidence. Through the study it was possible to identify that the learning of the teaching practice happens through formal, informal and non-formal education. The participants pointed out factors that favor and hinder the work of the teacher and those that impact on their satisfaction such as the process of teaching and learning, interpersonal relations, higher education institutions, work conditions, besides the teacher’s personal issues. The study shows that teaching demands study, dedication, knowledge of pedagogy matters and specific subjects, besides skills and competences.