[Effects of previous distribution of documents containing educational objectives on the teaching of pediatrics]

The authors discuss the usefulness of giving to the students of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of São Paulo instructions regarding the educational objectives of the graduation course. An inquiry was carried out with the collaboration of: 1) members of the Departmental Council and of the Commission for Graduation; 2) teachers responsible for the course, and 3) the students. Only 32.9% of the consulted students affirmed that the knowledge of educational objectives had a positive influence on their study.