Probiotics reshape the coral microbiome in situ without detectable off-target effects in the surrounding environment.

Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs), or probiotics, can enhance coral resilience against stressors in laboratory trials. However, the ability of probiotics to restructure the coral microbiome in situ is yet to be determined. As a first step to elucidate this, we inoculated putative probiotic bacteria (pBMCs) on healthy colonies of Pocillopora verrucosa in situ in the Red Sea, three times per week, during 3 months. pBMCs significantly influenced the coral microbiome, while bacteria of the surrounding seawater and sediment remained unchanged. The inoculated genera Halomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, and Bacillus were significantly enriched in probiotic-treated corals. Furthermore, the probiotic treatment also correlated with an increase in other beneficial groups (e.g., Ruegeria and Limosilactobacillus), and a decrease in potential coral pathogens, such as Vibrio. As all corals (treated and non-treated) remained healthy throughout the experiment, we could not track health improvements or protection against stress. Our data indicate that healthy, and therefore stable, coral microbiomes can be restructured in situ, although repeated and continuous inoculations may be required in these cases. Further, our study provides supporting evidence that, at the studied scale, pBMCs have no detectable off-target effects on the surrounding microbiomes of seawater and sediment near inoculated corals.

Bacteria associated with the in hospite Symbiodiniaceae's phycosphere.

Symbiotic interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria are still poorly explored, especially those in hospite. Here, we adapted a technique that allows for the enrichment of intact and metabolically active in hospite Symbiodiniaceae cells (ihSC) and their associated bacteria from the tissue of the model coral Pocillopora damicornis, using a discontinuous gradient of solution of isotonic Percoll (SIP). The ihSC were concentrated in the 50% SIP fraction, as determined by microscopy. The presence of bacteria associated with ihSC was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, while microbiome analysis indicated that bacteria of the families Halieaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Alcanivoraceae are significantly associated with ihSC. Extracellular vesicles that could be exuding molecules were detected on the symbiosome membranes. Our technique and data contribute to elucidate ihSC-bacteria interactions.

The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world.

Stony corals, the engines and engineers of reef ecosystems, face unprecedented threats from anthropogenic environmental change. Corals are holobionts that comprise the cnidarian animal host and a diverse community of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microorganisms. Recent research shows that the bacterial microbiome has a pivotal role in coral biology. A healthy bacterial assemblage contributes to nutrient cycling and stress resilience, but pollution, overfishing and climate change can break down these symbiotic relationships, which results in disease, bleaching and, ultimately, coral death. Although progress has been made in characterizing the spatial-temporal diversity of bacteria, we are only beginning to appreciate their functional contribution. In this Review, we summarize the ecological and metabolic interactions between bacteria and other holobiont members, highlight the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the structure of bacterial communities and discuss the impact of climate change on these communities and their coral hosts. We emphasize how microbiome-based interventions can help to decipher key mechanisms underpinning coral health and promote reef resilience. Finally, we explore how recent technological developments may be harnessed to address some of the most pressing challenges in coral microbiology, providing a road map for future research in this field.

Desenvolvimento e validação de aplicativo para ensino de abordagem da dor em cuidados paliativos / Development and validation of mobile application for teaching the subject of pain management in palliative care

Resumo Introdução: Avaliação e manejo adequados da dor têm se tornado uma preocupação cada vez maior dos profissionais de saúde. Segundo a definição de cuidados paliativos da Organização Mundial da Saúde, são importantes a identificação precoce, a avaliação e o tratamento da dor. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivos desenvolver e avaliar um aplicativo para dispositivos móveis voltado para o ensino de abordagem da dor em cuidados paliativos. Método: Foi desenvolvido um aplicativo móvel, seguido de sua utilização por médicos residentes e de avaliação qualiquantitativa prospectiva. Aplicou-se o teste de conhecimento. Obtiveram-se a usabilidade do aplicativo, por meio da System Usability Scale (SUS), e a satisfação, por meio do Net Promoter Score (NPS). Os dados foram tabulados no Microsoft Office Excel® e exportados para o software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) versão 20.0 (IBM): na realização das análises, adotou-se uma confiança de 95%. Para a análise qualitativa das avaliações, o conteúdo das respostas foi transcrito e organizado em nuvens de palavras para destacar as ideias centrais. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Centro Universitário Christus. Resultado: Desenvolveu-se o PaliPain App, aplicativo constituído de casos clínicos de pacientes em cuidados paliativos com manifestações de dor, além de questões, vídeos e imagens, disponibilizado nas plataformas Android e iOS. Utilizaram o aplicativo 13 médicos residentes. A média de acertos de questões no pré-teste sobre dor em cuidados paliativos aumentou de 6,08 para 7,54 após manuseio do aplicativo. Na avaliação sobre a usabilidade do aplicativo, obtivemos na SUS uma média de 89,2, acima do nível considerado adequado de 70,0. Na avaliação de satisfação, 54% dos médicos responderam com pontuação 10 à pergunta: "Em uma escala de 0 a 10, quanto você recomendaria o aplicativo PaliPain a um amigo ou colega?". Conclusão: O PaliPain App, desenvolvido e disponibilizado nas plataformas Android e iOS, foi bem avaliado pelos médicos residentes, apresentando ótimos escores de usabilidade e de satisfação. Identificamos que houve ganho de conhecimento, com pontuação média na resolução de questões aumentando de 6,08 para 7,54 após livre uso da aplicação. O PaliPain App pode ser uma ferramenta útil para ensino de abordagem de dor para médicos residentes.

Abstract Introduction: Pain evaluation has become an increasingly relevant concern for healthcare workers. According to the World Health Organization's definition of Palliative Care, early identification, evaluation, and treatment of pain are important. Objective: Developing and rating an app for mobile devices that focuses on teaching the subject of pain management in Palliative Care. Research Methodology: The app was developed as a learning tool and tested by resident physicians while undergoing a qualitative and quantitative prospective evaluation. Mock tests were taken. The usability of the app was rated through the System Usability Scale (SUS), and satisfaction with the app was rated through the Net Promoter Score (NPS). The data was charted by using Microsoft Office Excel ® and was exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 (IBM) software: an analysis was run with a 95% confidence interval. As for the qualitative analysis of the resident physicians' evaluations, all available content was transcribed and properly organized in word clouds in order to highlight the most important pieces of feedback that the physicians presented regarding the app. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. Main Results: The PaliPain App was developed as a database filled with clinical cases of patients undergoing palliative care who were experiencing varying levels of pain, and also presents analysis of test questions, videos and images. It was made available for the Android and iOS platforms. The average correct answers in a mock test about pain management during palliative care rose from 6.08 to 7.54. Thirteen resident physicians made use of the app. In the evaluation of the app's usability, the average SUS score was 89.2. In the evaluation of user satisfaction, 54% of the resident physicians answered the question "from a scale of 0 to 10, what is the likelihood of you recommending the PaliPan app to a friend or colleague?" with a score of 10. Conclusion: The PaliPain App, developed and available on Android and iOS platforms, was well evaluated by resident physicians, presenting excellent scores for both usability and satisfaction. We identified that there was a gain in knowledge, with an average score in the resolution of questions increasing from 6.08 to 7.54 after free use of the application. The PaliPan app could be a useful tool to teach the subject of pain to resident physicians.

Coracle-a machine learning framework to identify bacteria associated with continuous variables.

SUMMARY: We present Coracle, an artificial intelligence (AI) framework that can identify associations between bacterial communities and continuous variables. Coracle uses an ensemble approach of prominent feature selection methods and machine learning (ML) models to identify features, i.e. bacteria, associated with a continuous variable, e.g. host thermal tolerance. The results are aggregated into a score that incorporates the performances of the different ML models and the respective feature importance, while also considering the robustness of feature selection. Additionally, regression coefficients provide first insights into the direction of the association. We show the utility of Coracle by analyzing associations between bacterial composition data (i.e. 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequence Variants, ASVs) and coral thermal tolerance (i.e. standardized short-term heat stress-derived diagnostics). This analysis identified high-scoring bacterial taxa that were previously found associated with coral thermal tolerance. Coracle scales with feature number and performs well with hundreds to thousands of features, corresponding to the typical size of current datasets. Coracle performs best if run at a higher taxonomic level first (e.g. order or family) to identify groups of interest that can subsequently be run at the ASV level. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Coracle can be accessed via a dedicated web server that allows free and simple access: http://www.micportal.org/coracle/index. The underlying code is open-source and available via GitHub https://github.com/SebastianStaab/coracle.git.

Horizon scanning the application of probiotics for wildlife.

The provision of probiotics benefits the health of a wide range of organisms, from humans to animals and plants. Probiotics can enhance stress resilience of endangered organisms, many of which are critically threatened by anthropogenic impacts. The use of so-called 'probiotics for wildlife' is a nascent application, and the field needs to reflect on standards for its development, testing, validation, risk assessment, and deployment. Here, we identify the main challenges of this emerging intervention and provide a roadmap to validate the effectiveness of wildlife probiotics. We cover the essential use of inert negative controls in trials and the investigation of the probiotic mechanisms of action. We also suggest alternative microbial therapies that could be tested in parallel with the probiotic application. Our recommendations align approaches used for humans, aquaculture, and plants to the emerging concept and use of probiotics for wildlife.

Hurdles and opportunities in implementing marine biosecurity systems in data-poor regions.

Managing marine nonindigenous species (mNIS) is challenging, because marine environments are highly connected, allowing the dispersal of species across large spatial scales, including geopolitical borders. Cross-border inconsistencies in biosecurity management can promote the spread of mNIS across geopolitical borders, and incursions often go unnoticed or unreported. Collaborative surveillance programs can enhance the early detection of mNIS, when response may still be possible, and can foster capacity building around a common threat. Regional or international databases curated for mNIS can inform local monitoring programs and can foster real-time information exchange on mNIS of concern. When combined, local species reference libraries, publicly available mNIS databases, and predictive modeling can facilitate the development of biosecurity programs in regions lacking baseline data. Biosecurity programs should be practical, feasible, cost-effective, mainly focused on prevention and early detection, and be built on the collaboration and coordination of government, nongovernment organizations, stakeholders, and local citizens for a rapid response.

Genome analysis of a coral-associated bacterial consortium highlights complementary hydrocarbon degradation ability and other beneficial mechanisms for the host.

Here we report the oil degradation genetic potential of six oil-degrading bacteria (ODB), previously used as a bioremediation consortium, isolated from the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis and seawater. The strains were identified as Halomonas sp. (LC_1), Cobetia sp. (LC_6), Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (LC_2), Halopseudomonas aestusnigri (LC_3), Shewanella algae (LC_4), and Brucella intermedia (LC_5). The taxonomic identification differed from that of the original paper when we used whole genome gene markers instead of just 16S rRNA gene. Genes responsible for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes were found in all genomes, although different (and complementary) steps of the metabolic pathways were unique to each strain. Genes for naphthalene and toluene degradation were found in various strains. We annotated quinate degradation genes in LC_6, while LC_3 and LC_5 presented genes for biosurfactant and rhamnolipid biosynthesis. We also annotated genes related to beneficial mechanisms for corals, such as genes involved in nitrogen and DMSP metabolism, cobalamin biosynthesis and antimicrobial compounds production. Our findings reinforce the importance of using bacterial consortia for bioremediation approaches instead of single strains, due to their complementary genomic arsenals. We also propose a genome-based framework to select complementary ODB that can provide additional benefits to coral health.

Shedding light on the composition of extreme microbial dark matter: alternative approaches for culturing extremophiles.

More than 20,000 species of prokaryotes (less than 1% of the estimated number of Earth's microbial species) have been described thus far. However, the vast majority of microbes that inhabit extreme environments remain uncultured and this group is termed "microbial dark matter." Little is known regarding the ecological functions and biotechnological potential of these underexplored extremophiles, thus representing a vast untapped and uncharacterized biological resource. Advances in microbial cultivation approaches are key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping the environment and, ultimately, for their biotechnological exploitation, such as for extremophile-derived bioproducts (extremozymes, secondary metabolites, CRISPR Cas systems, and pigments, among others), astrobiology, and space exploration. Additional efforts to enhance culturable diversity are required due to the challenges imposed by extreme culturing and plating conditions. In this review, we summarize methods and technologies used to recover the microbial diversity of extreme environments, while discussing the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these approaches. Additionally, this review describes alternative culturing strategies to retrieve novel taxa with their unknown genes, metabolisms, and ecological roles, with the ultimate goal of increasing the yields of more efficient bio-based products. This review thus summarizes the strategies used to unveil the hidden diversity of the microbiome of extreme environments and discusses the directions for future studies of microbial dark matter and its potential applications in biotechnology and astrobiology.

Building consensus around the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae diversity.

Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates (e.g., sponges, molluscs, flatworms), and protists (e.g., foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over the past three decades to describe phenotypes and to make evolutionary and ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack of consensus among researchers with respect to interpreting genetic data has slowed progress in the field and acted as a barrier to reconciling observations. Here, we identify key challenges regarding the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity across three levels: species, populations, and communities. We summarize areas of agreement and highlight techniques and approaches that are broadly accepted. In areas where debate remains, we identify unresolved issues and discuss technologies and approaches that can help to fill knowledge gaps related to genetic and phenotypic diversity. We also discuss ways to stimulate progress, in particular by fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research community. We hope that this perspective will inspire and accelerate coral reef science by serving as a resource to those designing experiments, publishing research, and applying for funding related to Symbiodiniaceae and their symbiotic partnerships.

Neovaginoplasty With Nile Tilapia Skin: Cytological and Microbiota Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical, cytological, and vaginal microbiota findings in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome who underwent neovaginoplasty using Nile tilapia fish skin. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 7 cisgender women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome who had previously undergone neovagina reconstruction using Nile tilapia fish skin at a university hospital. Local institutional review board approval and written permission from the patient were obtained. Between August 2019 and November 2021, within 12 to 24 months after surgery, vaginal specimens were obtained for conventional oncotic and hormonal cytology, and for Gram staining. The Nugent scores were calculated. Colposcopy was also performed. RESULTS: Squamous cells without atypia were found in all patients. Five patients had intermediate vaginal microbiota (Nugent score of 4), which was determined by the presence of few lactobacilli on Gram staining. In hormonal cytology, 4 patients presented with findings compatible with menacme. No colposcopic change was observed. When postsurgical dilation was performed correctly, a mean vaginal length of 8.3 cm was maintained after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cells without atypia were present in neovaginas with Nile tilapia fish skin. Most vaginal contents revealed intermediate microbiota and hormonal results compatible with menacme. Studies with a greater number of patients are necessary for a more comprehensive understanding of the microbiome in neovaginas with this new technique, thereby providing support for the treatment and prevention of associated pathologies.

Calcareous sponges can synthesize their skeleton under short-term ocean acidification.

Calcifying organisms are considered as threatened by ocean acidification, because of their calcium carbonate skeleton. This study investigated if a calcareous sponge could synthesize its skeleton (i.e. spicules) under ocean-acidification conditions. Sponge cell aggregates that have the potential to develop into a functional sponge, called primmorphs, were submitted to a 5-day experiment, with two treatments: control (pH 8.1) and acidified conditions (pH 7.6). Primmorphs of the calcareous sponge Paraleucilla magna were able to synthesize a skeleton, even under low pH, and to develop into functional sponges. The spicules had the same shape in both conditions, although the spicules synthesized in low pH were slightly thinner than those in the control. These results suggest that P. magna may be able to survive near-future ocean-acidification conditions.

Species-specific relationships between deep sea sponges and their symbiotic Nitrosopumilaceae.

Sponges thrive in the deep, dark and nutrient-depleted ocean and may rely on microbial symbionts for carbon acquisition and energy generation. However, these symbiotic relationships remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyze the microbiome of deep-sea sponges and show that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) of the family Nitrosopumilaceae make up at least 75% of the microbial communities of the sponges Aphrocallistes sp., Farrea sp. and Paratimea sp.. Given the known autotrophic metabolism of AOAs, this implies that these sponge holobionts can have the capacity for primary production in the deep-sea. We also show that specific AOA lineages are highly specific towards their hosts, hinting towards an unprecedent vertical transmission of these symbionts in deep-sea sponges. Our results show that the ecology and evolution of symbiotic relationships in deep-sea sponge is distinct from that of their shallow-water counterparts.

Mycobiome structure does not affect field litter decomposition in Eucalyptus and Acacia plantations.

Mixed tree plantations have been studied because of their potential to improve biomass production, ecosystem diversity, and soil quality. One example is a mixture of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees, which is a promising strategy to improve microbial diversity and nutrient cycling in soil. We examined how a mixture of these species may influence the biochemical attributes and fungal community associated with leaf litter, and the effects on litter decomposition. We studied the litter from pure and mixed plantations, evaluating the effects of plant material and incubation site on the mycobiome and decomposition rate using litterbags incubated in situ. Our central hypothesis was litter fungal community would change according to incubation site, and it would interfere in litter decomposition rate. Both the plant material and the incubation locale significantly affected the litter decomposition. The origin of the litter was the main modulator of the mycobiome, with distinct communities from one plant species to another. The community changed with the incubation time but the incubation site did not influence the mycobiome community. Our data showed that litter and soil did not share the main elements of the community. Contrary to our hypothesis, the microbial community structure and diversity lacked any association with the decomposition rate. The differences in the decomposition pattern are explained basically as a function of the exchange of nitrogen compounds between the litter.

Dynamics of cell cycle proteins involved in Toxoplasma gondii-induced bovine NET formation.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation is one important host innate defense mechanism elicited by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). NETs are composed by chromatin and proteins with microbicidal and signaling activity. So far, there is one report on Toxoplasma gondii-triggered NETs in cattle, however, exact mechanisms, including signalling pathways and dynamics governing this reaction remain largely unknown. Recently, involvement of cell cycle proteins was demonstrated for phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-triggered human PMN-derived NETs. Here, we studied the involvement of cell cycle proteins in T. gondii-induced NETs in exposed bovine PMN. Through confocal and transmission electron microscopy we discovered that Ki-67 and lamin B1 signals are upregulated and relocated during T. gondii-induced NETosis. Nuclear membrane disruption was also observed as a hallmark of NET formation in bovine PMN confronted with viable T. gondii tachyzoites, mimicking some steps of mitosis. However, we did not observe centrosome duplication as previously described for human PMN-derived NET formation stimulated with PMA.

A thermophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterial consortium suggests a mutual relationship between bacteria in extreme oligotrophic environments.

A thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, and aerobic microbial consortium (termed carbonitroflex) growing in a nutrient-poor medium and an atmosphere containing N2, O2, CO2, and CO is investigated as a model to expand our understanding of extreme biological systems. Here we show that the consortium is dominated by Carbonactinospora thermoautotrophica (strain StC), followed by Sphaerobacter thermophilus, Chelatococcus spp., and Geobacillus spp. Metagenomic analysis of the consortium reveals a mutual relationship among bacteria, with C. thermoautotrophica StC exhibiting carboxydotrophy and carbon-dioxide storage capacity. C. thermoautotrophica StC, Chelatococcus spp., and S. thermophilus harbor genes encoding CO dehydrogenase and formate oxidase. No pure cultures were obtained under the original growth conditions, indicating that a tightly regulated interactive metabolism might be required for group survival and growth in this extreme oligotrophic system. The breadwinner hypothesis is proposed to explain the metabolic flux model and highlight the vital role of C. thermoautotrophica StC (the sole keystone species and primary carbon producer) in the survival of all consortium members. Our data may contribute to the investigation of complex interactions in extreme environments, exemplifying the interconnections and dependency within microbial communities.

Mitigating the ecological collapse of coral reef ecosystems: Effective strategies to preserve coral reef ecosystems: Effective strategies to preserve coral reef ecosystems.

Global warming is decimating coral reefs. We need to implement mitigation and restoration strategies now to prevent coral reefs from disappearing altogether.

Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions between a Probiotic Consortium and Its Coral Host.

Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) have been demonstrated to be effective probiotics to alleviate bleaching and mitigate coral mortality in vivo. The selection of putative BMCs is traditionally performed manually, using an array of biochemical and molecular tests for putative BMC traits. We present a comprehensive genetic survey of BMC traits using a genome-based framework for the identification of alternative mechanisms that can be used for future in silico selection of BMC strains. We identify exclusive BMC traits associated with specific strains and propose new BMC mechanisms, such as the synthesis of glycine betaine and ectoines. Our roadmap facilitates the selection of BMC strains while increasing the array of genetic targets that can be included in the selection of putative BMC strains to be tested as coral probiotics. IMPORTANCE Probiotics are currently the main hope as a potential medicine for corals, organisms that are considered the marine "canaries of the coal mine" and that are threatened with extinction. Our experiments have proved the concept that probiotics mitigate coral bleaching and can also prevent coral mortality. Here, we present a comprehensive genetic survey of probiotic traits using a genome-based framework. The main outcomes are a roadmap that facilitates the selection of coral probiotic strains while increasing the array of mechanisms that can be included in the selection of coral probiotics.

Validação de escala de avaliação de profissionalismo traduzida e adaptada em cenário de simulação / Validation of a translated and adapted professionalism assessment scale in a virtual simulation scenario

Resumo: Introdução: O Professionalism Mini-Evaluation Exercise (P-MEX) é instrumento que avalia 21 habilidades de profissionalismo, distribuídas em quatro domínios. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivos traduzir, adaptar e validar um instrumento de avaliação de profissionalismo médico. Método: Após a autorização do autor do P-MEX, realizaram-se a tradução do instrumento para a língua portuguesa, a análise de equivalência linguística e validade de conteúdo por especialistas em educação, e o exame de validade operacional em OSCE virtual entre estudantes do internato médico. Resultado: Houve elevada equivalência dos itens da versão em português do Brasil por especialistas em educação. O índice de validade de conteúdo da escala foi de 0,96. Seis professores validaram o P-MEX em ambiente de simulação para 27 estudantes do internato médico. Conclusão: A versão brasileira do P-MEX demonstrou ser adequada para avaliar o profissionalismo médico no contexto brasileiro, com boa validade operacional em cenário de simulação virtual.

Abstract: Introduction: "Professionalism Mini-Evaluation Exercise" (P-MEX) is an instrument that assesses 21 professionalism skills, distributed in four domains. Objective: To translate, adapt and analyze the validity of the medical professionalism evaluation exercise. Methods: After authorization from the author, the following tasks were performed: translation into Portuguese; linguistic equivalence and content validity analysis by education experts; operational validity analysis in virtual OSCE among medical clerkship students. Results: There was high equivalence of the items in the Brazilian Portuguese version by education specialists. The Scale Content Validity Index was 0.96. Six teachers validated the P-MEX in a simulation environment to 27 medical clerkship students. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the P-MEX proved to be adequate to assess medical professionalism in the Brazilian context, and showed good operational validity in a virtual simulation scenario.

Perfil do egresso médico de uma instituição de ensino superior do Nordeste do Brasil / Profile of medical graduates from a higher education institution in Northeastern Brazil

Resumo Introdução: Nos últimos anos, ocorreu um aumento da quantidade de faculdades médicas no Brasil, e, concomitante a isso, houve a ampliação do interesse em melhorar a qualidade do ensino na Medicina. Um questionamento resultante dessa mudança é se esse aumento de faculdades de Medicina implicará a formação de profissionais capazes de atender às demandas da sociedade contemporânea. Uma forma de responder a esse questionamento é conhecer o perfil dos egressos das instituições. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil dos egressos médicos formados em uma instituição de ensino superior do Nordeste do Brasil. Método: Realizou-se um estudo transversal do tipo pesquisa de campo com abordagem quantitativa. Egressos do curso de Medicina de uma instituição de ensino superior, formados no período de 2012-2019, foram avaliados por meio de um questionário enviado via e-mail, com perguntas de múltipla escolha. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da instituição. Resultado: Analisaram-se 127 questionários, o que corresponde a uma taxa de resposta de 13,8%, e o sexo feminino predominou ao representar 67,7% da amostra. O conhecimento sobre as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais durante a graduação foi relatado por 24,2% dos participantes. A maioria dos egressos demonstrou satisfação com o curso realizado e sentimento de preparo para atuação profissional como generalista. Em relação à residência médica, 90,5% dos egressos realizaram esse tipo de programa de especialização. A atuação profissional dos egressos na Estratégia Saúde da Família e no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) foi identificada em 66,9% e 84,3%, respectivamente. Sentimento de aptidão e de habilidade para lidar com educação em saúde, gestão da saúde e atenção à saúde da população foi identificado na maioria dos egressos. Conclusão: Identificamos uma boa satisfação ao final do curso e um sentimento de confiança para atuação profissional na maioria dos egressos. Aperfeiçoamento por meio de residência médica é um objetivo frequente entre os egressos. O SUS é um campo de trabalho para a maioria destes. Além disso, aptidões recomendadas pelas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais foram percebidas pelos egressos ao final da graduação. Futuros trabalhos com amostras maiores e multicêntricos são necessários para a avaliação do perfil dos egressos no Brasil.

Abstract Introduction: In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of medical schools in Brazil and, concomitantly, the interest in improving the quality of teaching in medicine has increased. One question resulting from this change is whether this increase in medical schools will imply the training of professionals capable of meeting the demands of contemporary society. One way to answer this question is to know the profile of the institutions' graduates. Objective: To evaluate the profile of medical graduates trained at a higher education institution in northeast Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional field research study with a quantitative approach was carried out. Graduates of the medical course of a higher education institution, graduated from 2012 to 2019, were evaluated through a questionnaire sent via e-mail, with multiple choice questions. The study was approved by the institution's ethics committee. Results: A total of 127 questionnaires were analyzed, which corresponds to a response rate of 13.8%; females predominated, representing 67.7% of the sample. Knowledge about the National Curriculum Guidelines during undergraduate school was reported by 24.2% of the participants. Most graduates demonstrated satisfaction with the course taken and a feeling of being prepared for professional work as a generalist. Regarding medical residency, 90.5% of the graduates attended this type of specialization program. Professional performance of graduates in the Family Health Strategy and in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) was identified in 66.9% and 84.3%, respectively. A feeling of aptitude and ability to deal with health education, health management and health care for the population was identified in most graduates. Conclusion: We identified good satisfaction at the end of the course and a feeling of confidence for professional performance in most graduates. Improvement through medical residency is a frequent goal among graduates. The SUS is a field of work for most of these professionals. In addition, skills recommended by the National Curriculum Guidelines were perceived by them at the end of undergraduate school. Future studies with larger and multicenter samples are needed to assess the profile of graduates in Brazil.