The teaching of acupuncture in the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil

Abstract

SummaryobjectIve. Since being introduced as an elective discipline (non-obligatory) in the second semester of 2002, acupuncture has been taught in the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. We conducted this study to verify interest and acceptance among under graduate medical students and to discern a positive influence contributing to improveing their skills. Methods. The study was conducted from 2002 to 2007 using descriptive statistical methods. results. The average number of students who concluded the discipline is 24.9 students per semester with an average number of medical students per semester of 87.5 (28% of all medical students in the 7 th and 8 th semesters). After a semester of basic training in acupuncture, only eight students per group are promoted (after selection) to the Medical Academic League of Acupuncture which lasts for two years. Every semester, all eight vacancies are filled. Among the students who concluded the course, 98% described course quality as good or very good, 85% considered themselves at least partially able to use acupuncture and 79% stated that the course influenced them in their medical education. conclusIon. There is a genuine interest to learn acupuncture, almost 30% of all students volunteer for a brief training in acupuncture while some of them choose additional training of two years indue to the importance of acupuncture as part of professional skills. Results indicate that acupuncture should be included as an elective discipline for medical students.

An overview of recently published medical papers in Brazilian scientific journals

“…Since being introduced as an elective discipline (non-obligatory) in the second semester of 2002, acupuncture has been taught in the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. Amadera et al36 conducted a study to verify interest and acceptance among under graduate medical students and to discern a positive influence contributing to improving their skills. A genuine interest to learn acupuncture was noted with almost 30% of all students volunteering for a brief training in the field while some of them choose additional training of two years due to the importance of acupuncture as part of professional skills.…”

Teaching Acupuncture to Medical Students: The Experience of Rio Preto Medical School (Famerp), Brazil

“…[9][10][11][12] This has been reported from countries such as Denmark where CAM is well known, 13 as well from countries such as Israel where students report little initial knowledge of CAM.…”

Cumplimiento de los criterios stricta en ensayos clínicos latinoamericanos en acupuntura

“…Así mismo, es destacable la experiencia de la Universidad de Sao Paulo donde desde el 2002, se brinda la enseñanza de acupuntura como materia electiva con un interés del 30% de los estudiantes de medicina (18) .…”