Health education and community bonding: medical students’ experience in a family health strategy unit in the state of Pará (Brazil)

Abstract

Objective: To report the experience of medical students from the Centro Universitário Metropolitano da Amazônia (UNIFAMAZ) in a Family Health Strategy unit located in the state of Pará (Brazil), developing educational activities for patients with arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, with the aim of strengthening self-care and the bond between the community and the health team. Experience report: The activities were carried out over five academic semesters, within a curricular program that integrates teaching, management, and care. Clinical screenings, supervised consultations, and educational activities planned using the 5W2H methodology were conducted. The actions addressed healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and treatment adherence through participatory and accessible strategies. The community showed good acceptance, demonstrating greater understanding of the diseases and stronger commitment to self-care. Final considerations: The experience reinforced the importance of health education in primary care as a transformative tool and as a means of strengthening the bond between health teams and service users. In addition to improving technical training, the project fostered in students the value of active listening, empathy, and the collective construction of care.