Tirocinio professionalizzante in sanità pubblica nel Corso di Laurea di Medicina e Chirurgia. Un’esperienza pilota

[Autom. eng. transl.] OBJECTIVES: The Faculties of Medicine increasingly require a teaching projected to professional activities, particularly in Public Health where "diagnosis" is implemented on populations and "treatments" of type: preventive; reducing health inequalities and using health services; of health management. These interventions are aimed at intervening on the main causal determinants that affect the health conditions of the population both in terms of policy and practice. A training prototype inspired by this and aimed at optimizing the availability of personnel and equipment was tested in a pilot experience concerning the professionalizing activities of medical students of the fifth year within the Integrated Course of General and Applied Hygiene and Medicine of the Work. METHODS: The professionalizing activity was carried out for didactic objectives (skills) aimed at guaranteeing each student an adequate level of skills in the main public health practices. The students, divided into small groups and under the responsibility of one / two tutors attend the laboratories of the Istituto d'Igiene in one academic year, examining the contents of Hospital Hygiene (IO) and Planning / Health Organization (POS). The verification, preparatory to the final exam, is carried out by ad hoc commissions on operational simulations. An observational study was conducted on a sample of 189 students in the period 1-31 May 2012, through the administration of two anonymous multiple-choice questionnaires (one for each content area) with items presented on a Likert scale and investigating the perception of relevance of content, tutoring and methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney test with significance level p <0.01) were performed. The results have been reported in a graphical and tabular summary. RESULTS: 378 questionnaires were completed. 96% of the students expressed themselves favorably. In particular, for the IO area, 96% expressed a judgment that was at least sufficient and 82% expressed an excellent opinion. Similarly, for the POS area 96% of students expressed a judgment that was at least sufficient and 71% an excellent opinion. Only 4% expressed themselves negatively. No statistically significant differences in satisfaction were observed between the two content areas. CONCLUSIONS: The encouraging results expressed by students in the two types of content areas support the validity and exportability of the training proposal. Further details are needed through the analysis of a wider population, including through the involvement of other centers.