title: Physicians' reflections on the personal learning process and the significance of distance learning in family health.
abstract: The scope of the article is to present the reflections of professionals from the Mais Médicos Program (More Doctors Program) on the significance of the specialization course in Family Health in terms of professional practice and learning the most important concepts. This is an empirically based qualitative study on the statements recorded in the "Critical reflection on their personal learning process" of the final work of the specialization course at the Federal University of Pelotas. For textual analysis, 101 reports were randomly selected from a total of 1,011 reports completed in seven states of the North, Northeast and South of Brazil from June to December 2015. The initial barriers were overcome with tutor support and team integration, with emphasis on teaching tools for the improvement of clinical practice and strategic organization of work and greater understanding of the public health system. Fostering the learning of the Portuguese language and the exchange of experience in the forums were considered valuable positive aspects. Despite the difficulty in Internet access in some municipalities it reaffirmed the central role of ongoing education and the viability of the problem-solving methodology, even from a distance.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Av. Duque de Caxias 250, Fragata. 96030-002 Pelotas RS Brasil. elainethume@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thumé
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Av. Duque de Caxias 250, Fragata. 96030-002 Pelotas RS Brasil. elainethume@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Louriele Soares
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wachs
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Av. Duque de Caxias 250, Fragata. 96030-002 Pelotas RS Brasil. elainethume@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariangela Uhlmann
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia em Saúde, da Escola Politécnica. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. Curitiba PR Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcia Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cubas
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Enfermagem, Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel). Av. Duque de Caxias 250, Fragata. 96030-002 Pelotas RS Brasil. elainethume@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Elizabeth Gastal
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fassa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Departamento de Medicina Social, UFPel. Pelotas RS Brasil.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Departamento de Medicina Social, UFPel. Pelotas RS Brasil.
authors.forename: Anaclaudia Gastal
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fassa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Departamento de Medicina Social, UFPel. Pelotas RS Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Facchini
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D020375:Education, Distance; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005192:Family Health; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000078329:Workforce