Supply of Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses in medicine in Brazil

Since a significant number of professionals in Brazil did not hold a specialist title, the aim of this study was to describe and analyze the supply of Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses in medicine.

Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses offered between February and May 2024 were surveyed using the e-MEC platform (Ministry of Education) and the websites of the offering institutions. The variables considered were medical specialty, number of places, workload, price, teaching modality, and public or private nature. Descriptive analyses and statistical tests of association were performed.

A total of 2,148 Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses aimed at doctors were identified and offered by 373 institutions, the majority (60.7%) of which were located in the Southeast, with half having a total workload of up to 420 h. The average duration was 13.3±7.4 months; there were 30.6±59.6 vacancies on offer, and the average total price was R$15,782.44±35,372.88. Approximately 90% were paid for, and 41.2% were distance-learning courses, the latter of which had a shorter duration, lower cost, and more places than other types of education.

Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses in medicine in Brazil reflect a heterogeneous, predominantly private universe with great variation in the characteristics of the courses on offer. This dispersion indicates the need for better regulation of Lato Sensu Postgraduate supply and marketing in Brazil, and in this way, the current study has important implications for education improvement.