Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of medical teachers regarding medical ethics, and to provide a baseline to prepare bioethics curricula and training modules for the teachers.
Study Design: Cross-sectional
Settings: Three medical colleges of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Inclusion Criterion: Assistant Professors and above; and lecturers doing their MPhil / PhD
Duration of Study: January to September, 2010
Sampling Technique: Simple Convenient Method
Sample Size: 202
Results: All of the study participants conducted research in their field of specialty; to get promotion (71%), get funding (9%), discover new ideas/theories (4%), for personal interest (5%), and multiple reasons (11%). Among them, 16% had received training of research / bioethics, and only 2% got refresher training. Eighty two percent knew the existence of ethical review committee in their institution; 55% got prior approval from ERC, 32% declared conflict of interest, 17% taught/discussed medical ethics with students; 21% took informed consent, 35% had idea of vulnerable population, 43% did not want to give full information to the study participants, and 70% recognized difference between medical research and care.
According to 77%, the authors’ list included only those who had contributed, but 17% also included supervisors/higher seniors and 6% colleagues.
Conclusion: Health care providers frequently encounter ethical issues. The medical teachers were not fully equipped with appropriate knowledge of bioethics. It should be included in curriculum and teachers be trained for the same.
Key words: Medical Ethics, Bio-ethics, Medical Faculty Knowledge, Medical University
|
