COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT IN CHILD HEALTH IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE RESIDENCY

THE CASE OF ESP-VS

Abstract

This article analyzes the development of child health competencies in the Pedagogical Project (PPC) of the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program (RMFC) at the Visconde de Saboia School of Public Health (ESP-VS) in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil. Grounded on the guidelines of the National Medical Residency Commission and the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine, the study adopted a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, based on documentary analysis. Competencies, workload, teaching methodologies, and assessment strategies related to child health in the PPC of ESP-VS were examined. The findings highlight the robustness of the project, its alignment with essential competencies, and the adoption of consistent pedagogical practices. However, challenges remain regarding the explicitness of the teaching-learning process and stronger integration with national guidelines. Results reinforce the importance of competency-based curricula for the qualification of residents, highlight contributions of the ESP-VS case for other programs, and suggest further investment in developing PPCs that meet the formative needs of comprehensive child health care.

Keywords: Medical Education; Child Health; Family Practice.