The Dentistry undergraduation course from the perspective of graduates: proposed changes

Resumen

This work is an investigative approach to the training process in Dentistry, from the perspective of students, up to five years after graduating from dental school, who had engaged in lato sensu graduate courses while experiencing a generalist practice of the profession. An exploratory research was chosen for this work, making quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data were collected through questionnaires related to the theme researched and analysis of the degrees of concordance and discordance. Semi-structured interviews were also used and their results were submitted to a Thematic Analysis. The main findings reveal the essential aspects that still prevent the achievement of the graduate profile proposed by the Brazilian Curricular Guidelines, especially those related to the training for a generalist practice of the profession. The lack of interaction between theory and practice is highlighted, as well as a vision of Dentistry disconnected with reality and consequent lack of preparation to function in the labor marketplace. An inadequate training to work in the context of the Brazilian public health system (SUS), an inadequate preparation for managing a private practice and selfdevelopment, and no preparation for social interaction with other professionals and patients also stand out. This landscape indicates the necessity of changing these shortcomings by incorporating the improvement of learning scenarios with a focus on an integrated clinical teaching proposal and on a flexible curriculum, with greater contents/discipline integration. Other actions should also be considered such as the implementation of interdisciplinary practices, a better preparation of undergraduate students in order to lead them to independent studies and research through incentives to engage in the scientific initiation program, and, finally, more investment in the development of professors.