Social Contribution of the Community Paramedicine Project: Caring for Lives, Strengthening Communities

Abstract

The training of health professionals is a complex task that requires a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. To achieve these skills, the link between educational institutions and the community is essential, since it allows students to have significant clinical experiences in real settings. However, the link also presents challenges that must be addressed in a timely manner to guarantee the effectiveness of the experience. In this sense, the objective of the research is to identify the social contribution of the Protected Zone project, implemented in Plaza Central by the Instituto Superior Tecnológico Portoviejo (ITSUP). A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out; aimed at the community of the Plaza Central market in Portoviejo, for the period June-July 2023. The sample is made up of 61 beneficiaries, the type of simple random sample. The data was collected through a survey. The results indicate that 80% of the participants know about the protected area project implemented in the central square market, 75% belonging to the age group of 40 to 70 years of age, mostly male, 75 % have received benefits from the project, being the Health Talks the most beneficial service for the community. Linkage contributes to improving the quality of medical care. In addition to allowing the student to develop their technical skills; transforms the way healthcare is delivered by focusing on prevention, accessibility, and personalized care.