Community Health course load before clerkship in Brazilian medical schools

Abstract: Introduction: The limits of the Community Health (CH) course load (CL) before medical clerkship (MC) in undergraduate courses are not defined neither National Curriculum Guidelines nor other documents, and have been investigated a comprehensive way national studies. Objective: To analyze community health Brazilian schools. Method: Cross-sectional study schools acknowledged by Ministry Education, which started activities until December 31, 2017. sites 323 existing were accessed that had their curricula available internet with details CH CL MC included. variables school geographic region administration type, MC, also including epidemiology, biostatistics occupational loads. Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square (Ӽ2) for categorical Mann-Whitney-U (U) Kruskal Wallis Ӽ2 tests continuous variables. Results: Out schools, 222 included (68.7%). Among 83 tuition-free (37.4%) 139 (62.6%). median was 440.0 hours (P25-75 = 300.0 - 640.0), equivalent to 5.4% 3.5 7.8) CL. private municipal was, respectively, 480.0 330.7 679.2) 576.0 360.0 766.0), state federal 337.0 281.2 524.2) 370.0 480.0), Ӽ2(3) 11.48, p .009. total non-tuition-free 500.0 336.0 690.0) it 364.0 285.0 504.0), U 4.259.0, z -3.26, .001. epidemiology 124 88.0 60.0 120.0), whereas 63 40.0 33.0 60.0). Conclusions: varies widely, being higher