Perception of Effectiveness of the Teaching Methods Used in a Medical Course in Northeast Brazil

ABSTRACT Medical education is in a process of transformation, particularly in terms of the diversification of the teaching methods used. However, the use and correct implementation of these new methods still present real challenges. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the perceptions and opinions of teachers and students regarding the effectiveness of the teaching methods used on the Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) medical course. For this purpose, an exploratory descriptive study was carried out, with a transversal character. Data collection was carried out from July 2015 to June 2016. A total of 140 students (82.5% of the medical course students) and 80 teachers (55% of the faculty) were interviewed. The subjects were of both sexes, and from all periods and curricular components of the course. After reading and signing a consent form, the participants were interviewed, with objective and subjective questions that sought to obtain their sociodemographic data, and their opinions and perceptions of the teaching-learning methods used by the teaching staff. The results were submitted to descriptive statistics and Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s Exact, using the PEPI and PAST software, and considering values of p ≤ 0.05 as significant. The interviewees’ opinions and suggestions were represented in the form of a word cloud, using WordArt software. Traditional methods were the most frequently used techniques (76.0% of teachers), and were considered more effective than contemporary methods by both the teachers (78.0%) and the students (92.0%). However, a high proportion of the interviewees (75.0% of the teachers and 73.6% of the students) said that they would like to use and experience other didactic-pedagogical methods as a way to improve learning. It was also observed that length of teaching experience, and whether or not the teacher held a postgraduation qualification, were significantly associated with the use of more contemporary teaching-learning methods. It is therefore concluded that lack of teaching experience and experience with other teaching methodologies, together with the strenuous workload of the course, can pose hindrances to the implementation and acceptance of more contemporary methodologies. We note the urgent need to promote didactic-pedagogical training for the teaching staff, as well as the implementation of the Pedagogical Project of the Course, in order to promote the development of student-centered methodologies, in line with current teaching recommendations for courses in the area of health, especially Medicine.