Publication: Awareness and Perceptions of Medical Students towards Health Care Ethics - A Study from Nepal
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Medical practitioners are the men of science who treat patients based on their
knowledge and skill. Unethical and immoral conduct in the practice of medicine
pertains to human right issues and litigation.
Objective
The present study is conducted to understand the perceptions and awareness of the
moral and ethical responsibilities of future medical doctors in Nepalese scenario.
Method
This cross sectional study was carried out among the undergraduate medical students
of Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal who were administered a
pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire relating to various aspects of health care
ethics. A total of 202 students (116 girls and 86 boys) voluntarily participated in the
study. Based upon the criteria whether a student had attended forensic medicine
lecture the study participants were thus divided into two groups Group I and Group
II. The responses of the participants were obtained on a 5 point Likert scale and
analyzed.
Result
The study observed that the overall awareness on issues regarding consent was
proportionately higher than for issues dealing with patient’s right to treatment. The
awareness levels were similar among the students of both groups for most of the
issues with exception of a few issues where awareness levels were higher among the
Group II students when compared to the Group I students.
Conclusion
This present study attempts to present the assessment of students on issues relating
to ethics and moral reasoning. The present study also emphasizes on the importance
of ethics in the practice of medicine.
KEY WORDS
Awareness, Health care ethics, Medical students
Description
Nepal S,1 Atreya A,2 Kanchan T3
1Department of Community Medicine,
2Department of Forensic Medicine,
Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute,
Rupandehi, Nepal.
3Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Jodhpur, India
Keywords
Awareness, Health care ethics, Medical students