CONTRIBUTIONS OF EXTRACURRICULAR INTERNSHIP TO PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY FORMATION: EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

This article describes the experiences of psychology undergraduates during an interdisciplinary theoretical-practical internship program in oncology conducted at a cancer treatment reference center in Belém, Pará, Brazil, between February and December 2023. The program involved an education coordinator and seven preceptors specialized in oncology, encompassing undergraduates from various courses in the health field, such as nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, nutrition, occupational therapy, psychology, and medicine. The theoretical aspect adopted problem-based learning for multiprofessional oncology education, complemented by practical experience focused on hospital psychology. The study considered that the program achieved its objective by enabling psychology students to develop essential competencies for working in psycho-oncology and within the dynamics of multidisciplinary healthcare teams in the hospital setting.