Teaching of medical ethics: students' perception in different periods of the course.

BACKGROUND Medical ethics is structured to guide doctors towards a better professional practice. However, its teaching in medical schools seems to be neglected. AIM To evaluate the perception of Federal University of Sergipe medical students about ethical conflicts during their academic practice, in two different periods of a medical course. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional, analytic and observational study. Using a qualitative approach, analytic categories were identified using an open questionnaire answered by two groups of students, before and after attending the medical ethics course. RESULTS In everyday practice, the participants referred embarrassment in front of patients. When considering the relationship with the professional/professor, they identified negligence and conflicts of interests in their practice. The students also detected bad infrastructure and professional relationship in public services, when compared to private ones. The conflicts experienced by the students in their own practice were insecurity, inability to cope with patients' problems and inadequate perception of medical confidentiality limits. According to the respondents, contribution of ethics teaching varied from adequate, when it was effective to orient their practice and provide confidence, to inadequate or absent because of an overall superficial approach. CONCLUSIONS Major deficiencies related to the teaching of medical ethics were identified, pointing to the need to change current medical education model.