A comparative study of extracurricular activities in ophthalmology teaching between São Paulo and Paraná / Um estudo comparativo das actividades extracurriculares no ensino da oftalmologia entre São Paulo e Paraná

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Whether due to enhanced longevity or another socioeconomic reason, it is fact that the demand for ophthalmological consultations has been increased significantly in last years. However, owing to the increasing overload of medical curriculum and the rapid technical and technological evolution of Medicine, the regular teaching of Ophthalmology is increasingly lagging among graduation students. OBJETIVES: Thus, the present study sought to evaluate the extracurricular activities in undergraduate Ophthalmology teaching, clarifying aspects and functions developed by ophthalmology academic leagues in Sao Paulo and Parana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a form, data was collected on complementary ophthalmology education with representatives of the academic leagues from all over the state of Parana and from public institutions in Sao Paulo. RESULTS: In the studied sample, it was found that, although Sao Paulo presented proportionally a greater number of active leagues in the academic year of 2020, the average value of members was higher in Parana. Except one league per state, all others required a test, year of graduation, or both, as a selection criterion. Furthermore, while in Parana there were more academic leagues which accepted medical students from other institutions, in Sao Paulo there were more leagues that offered vacancies for academics from other higher education courses. On the one hand, although all the leagues realized theoretical classes with physicians, the ophthalmology leagues in Sao Paulo offered proportionately more practical activities than the leagues in Parana. On the other hand, scientific production is more offered to academics from Parana than Sao Paulo. DISCUSSION: Despite academic leagues are a significant tool in complementing the insufficient ophthalmological education in undergraduate medicine, there are still few leagues in Parana and few members in Sao Paulo. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is possible to perceive a disharmony between the teaching of ophthalmology in graduation courses in both states and the growing demand for ophthalmology by the population.