Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to identify the students’ opinions in regards to the contributions of the university extension to professional education in care of elderly citizens.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, qualitative study conducted with 20 undergraduate students in the health area. Data collection was performed in August 2018 through recorded interviews and later transcribed to the computer following the technique of saturation of responses, being submitted to the Content Analysis technique proposed by Bardin.
Results: Four thematic categories were identified: the lucidity of activities aimed at health promotion; the university extension as a tool of reach for integrality of care and valorization of the human being; the inclusion and affectivity in the apprehension of new skills between theory and practice, and Being/Knowing and Doing in university extension.
Conclusion: The experience with university extension provided students with greater awareness in relation to human care. They began to not only understand the biological aspects, but also the need of offering an integral care, permeated by affection while also excluding the stigmatizing view towards senior citizens. Thus, expanding the knowledge about humanistic care to be dispensed to elderly citizens and thus becoming a more qualified and, above all, human.