Physical activity learning by medical students: the current picture in Brazil

Abstract: Introduction: Physical activity is essential for preventing and treating many diseases. Although physicians are the most influential health professionals in advising their patients on the benefits of physical activity, most medical degree programs in Brazil do not seem to include physical activity topics in their curricula. Objective: This study aimed to investigate physical activity topics on active medical curricula in Brazil. Method: The research was conducted separately in April 2015 and February 2019 using a governmental resource, the e-MEC system, and search in internet databases. Data were split into categories according to the type of enrollment (mandatory or optional) of the courses that have subjects or thematic modules with topics on physical activity, type of activities (theoretical, practical, or theoretical-practical), and emphasis on the content (health, performance, or health and performance). Results: Of the 223 medical curricula compiled in 2015 and 286 in 2019, respectively, only 24 (10.8%) and 19 (6.7%) had at least one subject or thematic module concerning physical activity with emphasis on health. Conclusion: In Brazil, the number of undergraduate medical curricula covering physical activity topics is still small and suffered a reduction between 2015 and 2019, which should warn medical education institutions about the need to include physical activity longitudinally distributed contents, with theoretical and - if possible - practical approaches, and emphasis on health promotion and treatment of diseases, in mandatory curricular units.