What is expected from a Medical Residency Program in Family and Community Medicine?: A look at the residency preceptor, family and community doctors, and legislation

Abstract

Introduction: Medical residency is the gold standard for training physicians after graduation, both in Brazil and in other countries. Among the existing programs in the country, one of the fastest growing in terms of number of vacancies is the medical residency in Family and Community Medicine (FCM). For accreditation of programs in the National Commission on Medical Residency, the program needs to be evaluated and approved by a committee of experts. However, there is no standard instrument that provides systematic assessment available. Objectives: To improve and define an instrument that allows the assessment and monitoring of the quality of medical residency programs in Family and Community Medicine, considering their singularities based on trained and trained physicians in the area. Methodology: production, adaptation and approval of the evaluation tool by renowned professionals at Brazilian FCM, totaling 9 people. Data analysis: The research and analysis methodology were by Delphi methodology, obtaining 80% agreement from the participants. Qualitative analysis by Bardin's Content Analysis. Results: The Delphi methodology required 5 evaluation cycles to understand and adapt the proposed technical recommendations, with the elimination of one item and weighting, with a methodology for analyzing the result of 10 resulting items, reaching an expected matrix for the organization of residency programs. Discussion: the existence of an instrument for the evaluation and monitoring of residency programs in family and community medicine can be a tool to facilitate program managers and allow the evaluation and monitoring to make it adequate. However, its practical applicability needs to be adequate to the realities of the health system and organization of residences, to be plausible and reproducible across the country, considering the diversity of programs. Conclusion: with the increase in the number of medical residency programs in family and community medicine, and thus of available places, it is essential that managers have a common plan so that the programs are adequate and productive for the specialty. With this, the presence of a guiding document can identify its strengths and weaknesses against the reality of construction. Thus, the result of this article is to present a document and its limitations.