Abstract Objective: To analyze the perception of undergraduates' students in a Dentistry School about the impact of basic disciplines on their professional development, as well the integration of this knowledge with the professional sphere. Material and Methods: It is a qualitative research study carried out through focus groups comprised of dentistry students close to finishing their degree. The data were analyzed by the thematic content analysis. Results: Four categories derived from the empirical material: "Disassociation of basic disciplines within the professional cycle", "Autonomy or transference of responsibility", "Campus-DOD distancing" and "Humanization of health care from first moments". The narratives showed the difficulties faced in order to effect, indeed, integration between the basic cycle and the curricular components of the vocational cycle. It was also evident the decontextualization of the basic cycle with the perspective of approach with professional practice. In addition, student's protagonist posture and learning how to humanize health care were identified as important factors to be debated and improved in the curriculum from the beginning of the course. Conclusion: The difficulties faced in order to effect an actual integration between the basic disciplines and the professional disciplines bring undesirable consequences upon undergraduate, being fundamental that the construction of new pedagogical projects means an effective integration of the contents to the curriculum design, avoiding any fragmentation between the basic and vocational cycle.

Abstract: One of the main premises of the Dentistry curricular guidelines is the integration of knowledge, bringing together the basic, clinical and public health areas. The aim of this research was to understand how the contents of the “basic cycle” contribute to dentists’ academic training. A qualitative study was performed, and developed through interviews of focal groups consisting of students from 2nd to 4th semester. The analysis produced five categories: decontextualization of social sciences, curricular structure, the gap between the basic and professional cycles, student resignation to the “basic cycle”, and teachers at the core of the process. It was concluded that the dichotomy between the basic and professional cycles complicates curricular integration and compromises students' commitment to their graduation. As a result, it is necessary to incorporate the principles provided in the Dentistry curricular guidelines, such as students’ proactive behavior towards the learning process and the teacher's role as a facilitator.

Resumen: Una de las principales premisas de las directrices curriculares de Odontología es la integración de conocimientos, articulando áreas básicas, clínicas y de salud pública. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comprender cómo los contenidos del “ciclo básico” contribuyen a la formación académica de los dentistas. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, desarrollado a través de entrevistas a grupos focales formados por alumnos de 2o. a 4o. semestre. El análisis mostró cinco categorías: descontextualización de las ciencias sociales, estructura curricular, distancia ciclo básico-ciclo profesional, renuncia al “ciclo básico” y profesores en el núcleo del proceso. Se concluyó que la dicotomía entre los ciclos básico y profesional obstaculiza la integración curricular y compromete la implicación de los estudiantes con su graduación y la incorporación de los principios señalados en las directrices curriculares de Odontología, como el comportamiento proactivo de los estudiantes hacia el proceso de aprendizaje y el papel del profesor como facilitador.

Resumo: O Sistema Nacional de Avaliação do Ensino Superior tem como objetivo acompanhar os cursos de graduação, permitindo que adequações sejam realizadas, sendo um de seus componentes o Exame Nacional de Desempenho do Estudante (ENADE). O objetivo do estudo foi comparar as questões ¬das provas dos ENADE 2004 e 2010 com os conteúdos das disciplinas do Curso de Odontologia da UFRN a partir da percepção de alunos concluintes e professores. Para consolidação das respostas as disciplinas foram identificadas a partir dos conteúdos previstos nas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais classificados em ciências básicas, saúde coletiva, propedêutica clínica e clínica odontológica. Observou-se desarticulação entre ciclo básico e ciclo profissionalizante, uma vez que os alunos sinalizaram nas respostas que não há coerência entre a extensa carga horária das disciplinas básicas e os conteúdos abordados sobre estas no ENADE. Uma das limitações para avanço nesta articulação é o isolamento destas disciplinas em Departamentos e Centros de Ciências sem articulação, os quais contribuem para a fragmentação do ensino em disciplinas isoladas e descontextualizadas, situação presente em várias instituições de ensino superior no Brasil. Para transformação desta situação é fundamental a autoavaliação constante que viabilize empoderamento aos atores diretamente envolvidos e interessados em um ensino superior de qualidade.

Abstract: The National System of Evaluation of Higher Education has the objective of accompanying the undergraduate courses and to allow adjustments to be made. One of its components is the National Student Performance Exam (ENADE). The objective of the study was to compare the questions from the ENADE 2004 and 2010 tests with the contents of the subjects of the UFRN Dentistry Course, based on the perception of graduate students and teachers. To consolidate the answers, the disciplines were identified based on the contents of the National Curricular Guidelines classified as basic sciences, collective health, clinical propaedeutics and odontological clinics. There was disarticulation between the basic cycle and the vocational cycle, since the students indicated in the answers that there is no coherence between the extensive workload of the basic subjects and the contents covered about them in ENADE. One of the limitations for advancement on this articulation is the insularityof these disciplines in Departments and Centers of Sciences without articulation, which contribute to the fragmentation of teaching in isolated and decontextualized disciplines, present situation in several institutions of higher education in Brazil. In order to transform this situation, a constant self-assessment that empowers the actors directly involved and interested in quality higher education is fundamental.

Resumo O PET-Saúde é configurado como um programa desenvolvido por cursos da área da saúde voltados para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), com a preceptoria de um profissional do serviço público. O objetivo da pesquisa foi comparar o desempenho entre alunos que participaram do PET-Saúde de cursos de Odontologia, Medicina e Enfermagem por meio dos resultados do Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes (ENADE) em 2010 com aqueles que não participam. A população do estudo consistiu de 49.758 estudantes, dos quais 761 participaram do PET-Saúde. Para analisar o desempenho de estudantes em 2010 foram considerados os escores médios dos conhecimentos gerais, habilidades específicas e saúde coletiva. Os alunos que participaram do PET-Saúde tiveram um desempenho superior em todas as médias (55,48) quando comparados com aqueles que não o fizeram (50,96). O investimento compartilhado entre os Ministérios da Saúde e Educação no PET-Saúde, estratégia envolvendo estudantes, profissionais de serviços públicos e professores, contribuiu para a reorientação da formação em saúde, produzindo uma importante relação entre os serviços de saúde pública e a universidade.

Abstract PET-Health is configured as a program developed by health courses guided by the principle Unified Health System (SUS), with the preceptorship of a professional from health public service. The aim of the research was to compare the performance between PET-Health undergraduate of Dentistry, Medical and Nursing courses by the results of National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) in 2010 with those who did not participate in the program. The study population consisted of 49,758 students, which 761 participated in PET-Health. To analyze the performance of students in 2010 were considered the mean scores in general education, expertise skill and public health. Students who participated in PET-Health had superior performance in all means (55.48) when compared to those who did not (50.96). The shared investment between the Ministries of Health and Education in PET-Health, strategy involving students, professionals from public services and professor, contribute to the reorientation of health training, producing a great relationship between public health services and university.

Resumo O PET-Saúde é configurado como um programa desenvolvido por cursos da área da saúde voltados para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), com a preceptoria de um profissional do serviço público. O objetivo da pesquisa foi comparar o desempenho entre alunos que participaram do PET-Saúde de cursos de Odontologia, Medicina e Enfermagem por meio dos resultados do Exame Nacional de Desempenho de Estudantes (ENADE) em 2010 com aqueles que não participam. A população do estudo consistiu de 49.758 estudantes, dos quais 761 participaram do PET-Saúde. Para analisar o desempenho de estudantes em 2010 foram considerados os escores médios dos conhecimentos gerais, habilidades específicas e saúde coletiva. Os alunos que participaram do PET-Saúde tiveram um desempenho superior em todas as médias (55,48) quando comparados com aqueles que não o fizeram (50,96). O investimento compartilhado entre os Ministérios da Saúde e Educação no PET-Saúde, estratégia envolvendo estudantes, profissionais de serviços públicos e professores, contribuiu para a reorientação da formação em saúde, produzindo uma importante relação entre os serviços de saúde pública e a universidade.

Abstract PET-Health is configured as a program developed by health courses guided by the principle Unified Health System (SUS), with the preceptorship of a professional from health public service. The aim of the research was to compare the performance between PET-Health undergraduate of Dentistry, Medical and Nursing courses by the results of National Student Performance Exam (ENADE) in 2010 with those who did not participate in the program. The study population consisted of 49,758 students, which 761 participated in PET-Health. To analyze the performance of students in 2010 were considered the mean scores in general education, expertise skill and public health. Students who participated in PET-Health had superior performance in all means (55.48) when compared to those who did not (50.96). The shared investment between the Ministries of Health and Education in PET-Health, strategy involving students, professionals from public services and professor, contribute to the reorientation of health training, producing a great relationship between public health services and university.