Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana

Abstract Background Research ethics and attitudes should be the main concern of those who are conducting and publishing research in medicine. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire among first year postgraduate doctoral students in Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine,...

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Main Authors: S Grosek, D Pleterski Rigler, M Podbregar, V Erčulj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-11-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04809-w
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author S Grosek
D Pleterski Rigler
M Podbregar
V Erčulj
author_facet S Grosek
D Pleterski Rigler
M Podbregar
V Erčulj
author_sort S Grosek
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Research ethics and attitudes should be the main concern of those who are conducting and publishing research in medicine. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire among first year postgraduate doctoral students in Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana during the academic year 2022/2023. Results There were 54 out of 57 doctoral students included in the study, with a mean age (SD) of 29.7 (4.7) years, with predominantly female doctoral students, 66.7%. The number of correct answers out of 39 considered to illustrate students’ knowledge of medical research ethics was 31, meaning that they gave correct answers to 80% of all the questions. The mean number (SD) of correct answers was 18.9 (5.8), which significantly differed from 31 (p < 0.001). The previous experience of the doctoral students in research was significantly correlated with their knowledge of medical research ethics, even when controlling for the age, gender and workplace of respondents. Conclusion This study clearly showed that insufficient knowledge and a poor level of attitudes exist about the main questions pertaining to medical research ethics. Overall knowledge is well below the expected positive answers. Further studies are needed to compare the knowledge of doctoral students with that of their tutors and what implications this might have for further teaching of research ethics.
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spelling doaj.art-93bde742473a48649468240439fc18dd2023-11-05T12:21:30ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-11-012311910.1186/s12909-023-04809-wKnowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of LjubljanaS Grosek0D Pleterski Rigler1M Podbregar2V Erčulj3Neonatology Section, Department of Perinatology, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre LjubljanaNational Committee of Medical Ethics of Republic SloveniaDepartment of Internal Intensive Medicine, General Hospital CeljeRho Sigma Research & StatisticsAbstract Background Research ethics and attitudes should be the main concern of those who are conducting and publishing research in medicine. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire among first year postgraduate doctoral students in Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana during the academic year 2022/2023. Results There were 54 out of 57 doctoral students included in the study, with a mean age (SD) of 29.7 (4.7) years, with predominantly female doctoral students, 66.7%. The number of correct answers out of 39 considered to illustrate students’ knowledge of medical research ethics was 31, meaning that they gave correct answers to 80% of all the questions. The mean number (SD) of correct answers was 18.9 (5.8), which significantly differed from 31 (p < 0.001). The previous experience of the doctoral students in research was significantly correlated with their knowledge of medical research ethics, even when controlling for the age, gender and workplace of respondents. Conclusion This study clearly showed that insufficient knowledge and a poor level of attitudes exist about the main questions pertaining to medical research ethics. Overall knowledge is well below the expected positive answers. Further studies are needed to compare the knowledge of doctoral students with that of their tutors and what implications this might have for further teaching of research ethics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04809-wResearch ethicsIntegrityDoctoral studentsBiomedicine
spellingShingle S Grosek
D Pleterski Rigler
M Podbregar
V Erčulj
Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
BMC Medical Education
Research ethics
Integrity
Doctoral students
Biomedicine
title Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
title_full Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
title_fullStr Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
title_short Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
title_sort knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in slovenia at the faculty of medicine university of ljubljana
topic Research ethics
Integrity
Doctoral students
Biomedicine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04809-w
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