THE RELEVANCE OF HOME VISITS IN THE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE INTERIOR OF AMAZONAS

Abstract

Medical practice requires, in addition to technical knowledge, sensitivity, empathy and respect. In this context, home visits emerge as a fundamental tool in the training of health professionals, providing close contact with the reality of patients, which favors a more humanized and comprehensive care. This report describes the experience of medical students from an institution located in the interior of the state of Amazonas, who participated in home visits organized by the team of the Basic Health Unit (BHU) and by the faculty. And in one of these visits, they followed the case of a 19-year-old young woman, victim of a serious car accident, which caused head trauma and prolonged hospitalization in the ICU. During hospitalization, the patient developed pneumonia and required neurosurgery, and at the time of the visit she was bedridden, with hemiparesis, speech difficulties, constipation and a significant weight loss at the time of the visit. The home environment presented precarious conditions, such as lack of adequate ventilation, inadequate mattress and a context of extreme social, family and health vulnerability. The health team carried out a complete clinical evaluation, guidance on medication and referrals to specialized care, including speech therapy, psychology, nutrition and otorhinolaryngology. The students were able to follow the entire process, being instructed on the proper management of the patient and the role of the multiprofessional team. This experience allowed the practical application of the knowledge acquired in the classroom, while sensitizing students to the importance of recognizing the social determinants of health. The experience showed that patients in vulnerable situations require personalized care and this is achieved in the home visit, also contributing to the students' understanding of the importance of seeing the patient holistically, respecting their unique needs and promoting care based on the principles of the SUS: universality, integrality and equity. Thus, it is concluded that the active participation of students during home visits is an indispensable tool for medical and personal education, as they awaken in students a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the construction of a more humane, effective and problem-solving medicine, which considers the patient in his totality, not only as a carrier of diseases,  but as a subject inserted in a biopsychosocial context.