Participation of medical students in actions against COVID-19 for commitment and social responsibility

Abstract

Introduction: To meet the demands and needs arising from COVID-19, the Universitary Hospital promoted volunteer activities among medical students in order to ensure Brazilian Unique Health System’s principles and guidelines at the health care service. The objective of this work is report the extension activities of the academic league students in a polyclinic linked to the unity.
Methodology: This was an extension activity executed by 7 students from the second to the fifth year of the medical course, members of the academic league. The activity lasted five months, from March 2020 to July. Under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team, the students performed paramentation and disposal of personal protective equipment. Then, they were distributed to the screening care, testing and epidemiological surveillance departments. The procedures included data collection, rapid percutaneous testing, nasal swab testing for perform PCR-RT, following up of medical appointments and recording of confirmed cases on the Ministry of Health’s platform. In addition, they participated training in ultrasound handle and orotracheal intubation equipment usage training. The target audience were patients who were under regular treatment in the unit before the pandemic, as well as health professionals from diferent parts of the state with clinical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Results: The unit became a reference in the diagnosis, treatment and regulation of these patients for high complexity hospitals. In this feeling, of the volunteers participation was important in contributing to and assisting the health care service.
Discussion: As a challenge, these individuals had the opportunity to go through the experience that is part of health professional’s routine that was explicitly evidenced in this pandemic scenario, especially in relation to work overload, stressful routine and contamination risk, including carrying it into the family environment.
Conclusion: Despite the atypical scenario, the practical learning obtained about the SAR-COV-2 pathophysiology and other gripal syndromes differential diagnosis, besides the empathy strengthening in the doctor-patient relationship during the reception, were fundamental in the professional exercising, including integration with other careers that constitute body health.