Undergraduate Education and Medical Practice: Expectations and Concepts in a Group of First to Sixth-Year Brzilian Medical Students

Abstract: This study focused on medical students' concepts and expectations concerning undergraduate training and future professional practice. Qualitative analysis was the method chosen to allow visualization of these concepts and expectations. Forty first to sixth-year medical students were interviewed, distributed equally among three groups: 1st-2nd year; 3rd-4th year, and 5th-6th year. The results revealed students' representations, signaling a process of personal maturity and progressive contact with the reality of the profession, mainly in relation to intemships.