Abstract

SANCHEZ-ROMAN, Francisco Raúl; MEDINA-FIGUEROA, Alda María; RANGEL-ZERTUCHE, Ricardo Alfonso  and  SANCHEZ-RAMOS, Apolinar. The teaching of occupational medicine in Mexican medical schools. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2009, vol.51, n.2, pp.97-103. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation of teaching occupational medicine (OM) in academic programs and medical schools in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted and schools were identified through the main directories of medical schools. For the analysis of information descriptive and inferential statistics were used. RESULTS: A total of 75 medical schools were identified. In 39 (52%) the subject is mandatory, with a predominance in public schools (p< 0.02). Among the schools that offer the subject, only 15 (38%) have professors specialized in OM. CONCLUSIONS: Disparity in teaching basic aspects of OM in medical schools explains the little development and social and professional recognition of the specialty; it also highlights serious problems for public health, derived from the lack of prevention of risks in work environments.

Keywords : occupational medicine; medical education; undergraduate medical education; Mexico.

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