Evaluating the experience of training through videoconferences in primary care

The technological innovations that are a part of organizational realities allow for new possibilities in social processes. In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, the municipality established a system of training through videoconferences in primary care connecting professors and professionals from primary care units to discuss assistance problems in medicine, nursing, and dentistry.

An evaluation of the professionals' perception regarding the system of training through videoconferences in primary care.

The study involved 148 basic health units in the city of Belo Horizonte. A structured survey was applied to a sample of 373 people who used the system in 2008.

According to the survey data, 58.6% of the professionals participated in more than three videoconferences in 6 months, whereas 30.3% did not participate in any type of face-to-face training activity; 98% considered the topics interesting and 70% affirmed that the topics discussed helped them when performing assistance tasks. Other aspects that were evaluated as excellent or good include: 36.6% approved the sound quality of the videoconferences, 46.4% approved the image quality, and 43.9% approved the system stability. These results highlight some problems. Nevertheless, 90.2% evaluated the telehealth project as being excellent or good and 96.7% would recommend the implementation of the project in other units.

The system of educational training videoconferences can contribute to improving the competence of primary healthcare attention.