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SU‐GG‐E‐03: Current Status of Medical Physics Undergraduation Courses in Brazil
Author(s) -
Costa P,
Terini R,
Freitas M,
Watanabe E
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.3468033
Subject(s) - bachelor , graduation (instrument) , medical education , medical physicist , physics education , medical school , psychology , medicine , mathematics education , medical physics , mathematics , political science , geometry , law
PURPOSE Medical Physics teaching in Brazil differs of other countries, since there are a number of undergraduation courses providing this background for bachelor's students. A survey was performed by Brazilian Association of Physicist in Medicine (ABFM) and a Workshop on Medical Physics Education and Training was organized in order to understand the state‐of‐the‐art of the current teaching methods. METHODS AND MATERIAL During 2009, electronic forms were sent to Medical Physics courses coordinators in order to obtain information regarding the status of each University. The requested information included: year of starting the offer of Medical Physics undergraduation, number of students accepted per year, modality of students' selection, and others. During the Workshop (February 4–5 th , 2010), the current educational methods and ideal profile bachelors in Medical Physics were discussed at roundtables and testimonies of employers, ex‐students and graduation and residency program supervisors. RESULTS The survey collected data from 8 out of 13 courses and it showed that Medical Physics courses open at least 360 places per year and have duration of 4–5 years. Around 120 students had concluded their undergraduation courses in the last year, totalizing approximately 550 students graduated until 2008. As a result of the Workshop, the need for attention on improving the clinical experience during the undergraduation period appears as the main topic to be reinforced by the course coordinators. Hospital training after to conclude the undergratuation course is an important part of the education‐training. CONCLUSION The data survey and Workshop showed that undergraduate courses have accelerated the formation of staff for the Medical Physics. Differences on the provided scientific background for the students of different Medical Physics courses must be harmonized in order to provide similar information and resources in each University. It should be done without interference in the main characteristics and natural specialization of each school.