Abstract

Objective

to know the challenges inherent to interprofessional education in teaching-service-community integration practices from the perspective of professors in the health area.

Method

a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Data collection took place between September and December 2021, in a Higher Education Institution from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The research participants were eleven professors who coordinate internships in the Collective Health scope. The data were submitted to Discursive Textual Analysis.

Results

as main challenges, the data pointed out the scarce integration moments, the restricted physical space in the services, some professionals' resistance to work in teams and the schedules of the academic practices. On the other hand, the programs that induce training for the Unified Health System and the existence of a Collective Health collegiate group proved to be strategies to promote interprofessional education.

Conclusion

it is concluded that interprofessional education still faces obstacles to its strengthening; however, there are already initiatives that demonstrate potential for teaching-service-community integration.

Implications for the practice

the study can contribute to identifying the challenges inherent to interprofessional education and, thus, enabling strategies in the context of training and work in health, from an interprofessional perspective.

Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Health Education; Professional Training in Health; Interprofessionality; Unified Health System