Experimental course in medicine at the University of São Paulo.

The structure, general objectives, characteristics, and administrative organization of the experimental course in medicine at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, are examined. The individual course subjects are then described, as are the six cycles, together with the class hours allotted to each, into which the course is divided: (1) basic instruction; (2) studies vertically integrated into the system; (3) the preclinical course; (4) the clinical course (corresponding to the fourth year); (5) the rotating internship; and (6) the elective internship. Including the internship system adopted in the last four years, the course comprises a total of 10,000 hours. Emphasized are: teacher training of instructors; position in the course of social sciences and medical psychology; factors adversely affecting the teaching of community medicine; effects on the student of the characteristics of the system adopted for practice during internship and in the teaching hospital. Establishment of a continuing process for stimulating attainment of the objectives, improving teaching methods, and securing the desired results is recommended as part of the experimental course.