The quality of the medical services in the access determination

perceptions of postgraduate dentistry students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the  perceptions of postgraduate dentistry students concerning the quality of medical services with focus on health care access. The methodology followed a qualitative study design, where the focus group technique was utilized to collect the data. The focus group was constituted by eight postgraduate students (six women and two men) from the College of Dentistry at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and all participants were users of the private health insurance system. The focus group began with their discussion of reasons that influenced people while choosing medical professionals and specific health care services. The quality of the physician-patient relationship showed up as one essential topic in the determination of access to medical services. The necessity for changes in this vertical relationship between physicians and patients comes through an increase in the social control and also require a better formation of human resources in the health care field. The deifying of the physician’s image and actions is also a barrier to encourage a horizontal conversation between these two main characters. The harmonic relationship between physician and patient is fundamental in the choice of health care services as well. Finally, the participants of the focus group share the same idea of being a part of this project of betterment of human resources within the field of health care.