Empowering health sciences students in spreading knowledge: insights from the long COVID Brazilian Congress

Student engagement in health education and scientific dissemination initiatives can foster critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration skills. The Long COVID Brazilian Congress represented an innovative academic initiative aimed at disseminating updated scientific knowledge about post-COVID-19 conditions to diverse audiences while promoting student involvement in scientific communication. Our aim was to assess the self-perceptions of health science students regarding skills and lessons learned from their experience organizing a conference dedicated to disseminating the latest scientific insights on COVID-19 and long COVID. A cross-sectional study employing a mixed-methods approach assessed the self-perception of all 17 students who were part of the organizing committee of the Third Brazilian Congress on Clinical Evidence in COVID-19, using a questionnaire on Google Forms®. Students reported significant learning gains in scientific communication, teamwork, and social responsibility. They recognized the challenge of simplifying scientific language for a lay audience while maintaining accuracy, which strengthened their ability to mediate between research and society. The experience fostered empathy toward patients with long COVID and expanded their understanding of the broader social implications of the pandemic. Participants emphasized that the Congress provided a unique opportunity for interprofessional collaboration and promoted a sense of purpose in addressing contemporary public health challenges. In conclusion, the initiative demonstrates that engaging students in scientific dissemination projects can enhance professional development and strengthen the link between universities and communities. This educational model may serve as a replicable strategy to promote health literacy and civic engagement in future health professionals.