Evaluación de una actividad formativa en acción comunitaria realizada por estudiantes pregrado

Objective: to evaluate the level of learning and the methodology of an academic paper on the design of a local community activity.Method: a mixed evaluative study conducted on Nursing students. After a theoretical introduction on community action, 144 students formed teams and, during two months, conducted a partially real population analysis, article mapping and bibliographic search in order to understand the lifestyles, search and critical analysis of previous community experiences, and design a proposal of activity. Professors graded it through signature (0 to 10 scores), and students were offered an evaluation through four open questions and two closed-ended questions (interest generated and the need to maintain the training activity, Likert scales with min. 1 to max. 5). Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted, as well as content analysis.Results: the activity was conducted by 27 groups, who achieved a median score of 8.17. It was then evaluated by 96 students, who considered that it was interesting (x–= 4.29) and should be maintained (x–= 4.17). They identified as “necessary” and important the health promotion projects in the local community and the work shared with it. They showed that they had discovered another area of professional action. They scarcely showed salutogenic vision and had difficulties to focus the task on a search for bibliography and previous experiences.Conclusion: the activity was successfully conducted by students, and the desired familiarity with the community work was achieved at short term. Students met difficulties to develop the methodology but perceived the activity as interesting and relevant.