Background: Developing critical thinking and learning the principles of scientific research during a residency are essential to support decision-making, encourage evidence-based clinical practice and enhance the quality of scientific production.
Objectives: To report the implementation and initial results of a national training initiative on critical thinking and scientific production for health residents and preceptors in Brazil.
Methods: Case study conducted at Health Technology Center, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil, as a component of ‘Residências’, a project developed by Hospital Sírio-Libanês and supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (PROADI-SUS). Residências aims to qualify health professionals across the country, offering medical and multiprofessional residency programmes and complementary educational initiatives for residents and preceptors and considering the health needs and problems of the Brazilian population.
Results: This free, short-duration, online course focuses on medical and nonmedical residents and preceptors acting in any residency programme accredited in Brazil. The 50-hour training lasts 13 weeks, consisting of (a) 13 asynchronous theoretical-practical classes addressing key concepts on research and evidence-based medicine (20 hours), (b) 5 synchronous tutorials in small groups for guiding students in the elaboration of a scientific product and addressing students’ questions (10 hours), and (c) 20 hours distributed at the student’s discretion, designated to the reading of support material and completion of tasks related to individual projects. From November 2022 to January 2023, a pilot group of 18 participants completed the course, developed a scientific product and fulfilled the certification criteria. Pre- and post-course tests and a satisfaction form were completed by the participants, and an analysis is underway to endorse potential improvements for the coming groups.
Conclusions: This initiative seemed to be a feasible, acceptable and sustainable strategy to qualify early-career health professionals as well as their preceptors in Brazil. Relevance and importance to patients: The initiative is structural and has the potential to bridge the know-to-do gap by contributing to the body of knowledge of health professionals and qualifying healthcare in the Brazilian public health system.