INTRODUCTION: Few studies address public health teaching in undergraduate courses. The aim of this study was to investigate the interest of medical students in this area. METHODS: Surveys were made in consecutive semesters among medical students with a structured questionnaire. The investigations included the promotion of a website with commented summaries of articles published in public health journals. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 59.8% in the first survey and 46.5% in the second reported a greater interest in Public Health. These students do more reading of journals in the field (47.5% vs. 25.4%; p<0,001), usually on amonthly basis. It was found that the favorite way to seek information on the subject was via the internet.Student interest did not increase after promotion of the website, whichwas scarcely accessed. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the students reported a greater interest in Public Health and a smaller proportion have the habit of reading articles on this topic. The internet can be a channel of communication for public health information, but a more structured intervention is required to reach a broader audience.
Public Health; Scientific Communication and Diffusion; Medical Students; Medical Education
