Adolescent medicine for medical students. A study of knowledge and performance among medical students in Brazil.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to elaborate and apply an evaluation instrument designed to evaluate acquisition of knowledge and performance of medical students in the field of adolescent medicine. Study carried out during one year, with a total of 103 fifth-year medical students of a Brazilian medical school, divided into four groups. Questionnaire, pre and post-test, record of individual evaluation, exam marks and average of teachers' concepts. Each group was submitted to a test with a differentiated number of questions, though proportionality in the distribution of themes was maintained. Statistical analysis used the chi-square test or verisimilitude ratio test; means, standard deviations and analysis of variance; Turkey's test of multiple comparisons; and multivariate technique for repeated measurements. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The distribution of themes in tests and comparative analysis of tudents' mean score in the Pre-test did not reveal any statistically significant difference (p = 1.0; p = 0.08). A positive correlation was observed between performance evaluated by the research instrument and that measured by formal instruments of the course (r = 0.45; r = 0.68). There was an increase in acquisition of knowledge, with a positive correlation between scores of the Pre and Post-Test and between Post-Test-Pre-Test difference/Exam (r = 0.43; r = 0.27). The instrument was shown to be appropriate for evaluating the teaching of adolescent medicine at pregraduate level. There was increase in acquisition of knowledge. The methodology used can be a reference point for works with similar objectives.