Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges

BACKGROUND: Ethic education as a part of medical school curriculum is one which requires constant re-evaluation and re-emphasis. The medical regulatory body of India has, in recent times, introduced a revised module of the same, which is implemented across the country in all medical schools. Medical...

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Main Authors: Shimpa Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Rajesh K Khyalappa, Shweta Sharma, Samin Kandoth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=284;epage=284;aulast=Sharma
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author Shimpa Sharma
Rakesh Sharma
Rajesh K Khyalappa
Shweta Sharma
Samin Kandoth
author_facet Shimpa Sharma
Rakesh Sharma
Rajesh K Khyalappa
Shweta Sharma
Samin Kandoth
author_sort Shimpa Sharma
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Ethic education as a part of medical school curriculum is one which requires constant re-evaluation and re-emphasis. The medical regulatory body of India has, in recent times, introduced a revised module of the same, which is implemented across the country in all medical schools. Medical students' perception of ethics education is an important variable which will influence the validity of this module. This study attempts to evaluate the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A peer-validated questionnaire was distributed to 150 undergraduate and postgraduate medical students (response rate: 74.4%) with the aim to evaluate their attitude toward knowledge of ethics, and their perceptions of contents and methods of learning ethics. RESULTS: A significant number of students recognize the importance of medical ethics knowledge and its positive impact on their career (P < 0.05). They accept material taught as per planned curriculum as a source of learning and favor interactive methods of teaching (P < 0.05). Research projects and didactic lectures were rejected as learning methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: “Deliberate teaching” has been accepted as a source of learning ethics by all students, though undergraduate students also favored learning about ethics “during practice.” Perceptions have been identified that need to be addressed. The study reveals a need to further explore the purpose and contribution of role models in this context and to identify ways of strengthening their related perceptions by students.
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spelling doaj.art-0cd2b70c8c7748258675d1076d6de0f02022-12-21T17:44:23ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312021-01-0110128428410.4103/jehp.jehp_982_20Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical collegesShimpa SharmaRakesh SharmaRajesh K KhyalappaShweta SharmaSamin KandothBACKGROUND: Ethic education as a part of medical school curriculum is one which requires constant re-evaluation and re-emphasis. The medical regulatory body of India has, in recent times, introduced a revised module of the same, which is implemented across the country in all medical schools. Medical students' perception of ethics education is an important variable which will influence the validity of this module. This study attempts to evaluate the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A peer-validated questionnaire was distributed to 150 undergraduate and postgraduate medical students (response rate: 74.4%) with the aim to evaluate their attitude toward knowledge of ethics, and their perceptions of contents and methods of learning ethics. RESULTS: A significant number of students recognize the importance of medical ethics knowledge and its positive impact on their career (P < 0.05). They accept material taught as per planned curriculum as a source of learning and favor interactive methods of teaching (P < 0.05). Research projects and didactic lectures were rejected as learning methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: “Deliberate teaching” has been accepted as a source of learning ethics by all students, though undergraduate students also favored learning about ethics “during practice.” Perceptions have been identified that need to be addressed. The study reveals a need to further explore the purpose and contribution of role models in this context and to identify ways of strengthening their related perceptions by students.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=284;epage=284;aulast=Sharmaattitudelearningmedical ethicsmedical school
spellingShingle Shimpa Sharma
Rakesh Sharma
Rajesh K Khyalappa
Shweta Sharma
Samin Kandoth
Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
attitude
learning
medical ethics
medical school
title Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
title_full Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
title_fullStr Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
title_full_unstemmed Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
title_short Student perceptions: Background to a new ethics curriculum in Indian medical colleges
title_sort student perceptions background to a new ethics curriculum in indian medical colleges
topic attitude
learning
medical ethics
medical school
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=284;epage=284;aulast=Sharma
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