Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review

Background  Medical ethics is universally accepted as a fundamental part of medical education. One of the current challenges lies in assessing its effectiveness. The primary objective is to analyze the impact of training in medical ethics, and secondly to describe educational practices a...

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Main Authors: Filipa Moreira, Pedro Teixeira, Cecília Leão
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2021-06-01
Series:MedEdPublish
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mededpublish.org/Manuscripts/3862
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author Filipa Moreira
Pedro Teixeira
Cecília Leão
author_facet Filipa Moreira
Pedro Teixeira
Cecília Leão
author_sort Filipa Moreira
collection DOAJ
description Background  Medical ethics is universally accepted as a fundamental part of medical education. One of the current challenges lies in assessing its effectiveness. The primary objective is to analyze the impact of training in medical ethics, and secondly to describe educational practices and discuss the most effective and appropriate pedagogical models. Methods  The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies up June 2019.   Studies with a focus on assessing teaching medical ethics were considered. The included population were medical students, residents or faculty physicians with quantitative measured outcomes with at least one of the following criteria: i) pre and post intervention evaluation or ii) a comparison with a control group that did not receive the educational intervention.   Results  A total of 26 studies ranging from 1990 to 2017 were included: 12 (46%) with medical students, 12 (46%) with residents and 2 (8%) with faculty physicians. The most common outcomes are Knowledge, Confidence and Attitudes/ Behaviour. Assessment instruments are knowledge tests, self-assessment questionnaires, reviewing clinical charts and OSCE. Positive statistically significant differences were found in outcomes in 19 (73%) studies.   Conclusions  A great heterogeneity was found in the way of teaching, assessment and measured outcomes. Most studies focus in medical students or residents. Very few studies present follow-up measures, simulation training and validated and standardized assessment tools with behavioural components. Therefore, the evidence to support the positive impact remains weak. Future research on medical ethical training ought to place similar effort and rigour as other clinical competence skills.  
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spelling doaj.art-d7518547b1a14b59839e11d373c72e512022-12-21T19:05:35ZengF1000 Research LtdMedEdPublish2312-79962021-06-01101Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic reviewFilipa Moreira0Pedro Teixeira1Cecília Leão2Hospital de Braga, PortugalSchool of Medicine, University of Minho, PortugalSchool of Medicine, University of Minho, PortugalBackground  Medical ethics is universally accepted as a fundamental part of medical education. One of the current challenges lies in assessing its effectiveness. The primary objective is to analyze the impact of training in medical ethics, and secondly to describe educational practices and discuss the most effective and appropriate pedagogical models. Methods  The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies up June 2019.   Studies with a focus on assessing teaching medical ethics were considered. The included population were medical students, residents or faculty physicians with quantitative measured outcomes with at least one of the following criteria: i) pre and post intervention evaluation or ii) a comparison with a control group that did not receive the educational intervention.   Results  A total of 26 studies ranging from 1990 to 2017 were included: 12 (46%) with medical students, 12 (46%) with residents and 2 (8%) with faculty physicians. The most common outcomes are Knowledge, Confidence and Attitudes/ Behaviour. Assessment instruments are knowledge tests, self-assessment questionnaires, reviewing clinical charts and OSCE. Positive statistically significant differences were found in outcomes in 19 (73%) studies.   Conclusions  A great heterogeneity was found in the way of teaching, assessment and measured outcomes. Most studies focus in medical students or residents. Very few studies present follow-up measures, simulation training and validated and standardized assessment tools with behavioural components. Therefore, the evidence to support the positive impact remains weak. Future research on medical ethical training ought to place similar effort and rigour as other clinical competence skills.  https://www.mededpublish.org/Manuscripts/3862Medical ethicsMedical educationMedical practiceEthical trainingEthics competenceEffectivenessImpact.
spellingShingle Filipa Moreira
Pedro Teixeira
Cecília Leão
Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
MedEdPublish
Medical ethics
Medical education
Medical practice
Ethical training
Ethics competence
Effectiveness
Impact.
title Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
title_full Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
title_fullStr Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
title_short Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review
title_sort effectiveness of medical ethics education a systematic review
topic Medical ethics
Medical education
Medical practice
Ethical training
Ethics competence
Effectiveness
Impact.
url https://www.mededpublish.org/Manuscripts/3862
work_keys_str_mv AT filipamoreira effectivenessofmedicalethicseducationasystematicreview
AT pedroteixeira effectivenessofmedicalethicseducationasystematicreview
AT cecilialeao effectivenessofmedicalethicseducationasystematicreview