CAVADAS, Luís Filipe; PONTE, Carla    GRANJA, Mónica. Medical students as research collaborators in primary healthcare care centers. []. , 34, 6, pp.428-436. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v34i6.12335.

Research in family medicine is acknowledged to be important. In the research agenda of family medicine, observational studies can be very useful. Traditionally, observational research has been based on clinical notes, and its limitations are frequently discussed. One of the obstacles to observational research in family medicine is the privacy of the appointment, besides the fact that it is not easy for the family physician to carry out research within the appointment time. Thus, this work presents a methodology described as a ‘gold standard’ in studies on the content of professions, based on the use of external observers, and named time-and-motion technique. Its practical usefulness has been demonstrated in a pioneering study carried out on Portuguese family physicians, which involved medical students as research collaborators performing data collection during the consultation. Collaboration allows students to have early contact with family medicine and with an innovative technology.

: Research; Time and motion studies; Medical education; Family practice.

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