Ethical Literacy in Medical Education: A Comparative Study of Medical Ethics among Undergraduate Students in Peshawar, Pakistan: Ethical literacy in Medical Education

Khansa Khan; Salman Zahir; Marwa Shaukat; Abdul Muqeet Ahmad; Muhammad Abdullah; Kabir Iqbal; Syeda Romesa Sana; Shumayel Ashraf; Amber Ahmad Khattak; Muhammad Nabeel; Somia Mazhar; Jamal Shah

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v7i05.1086

Authors

Khansa Khan Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Salman Zahir Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest General Hospital and Research Center, Peshawar, Pakistan
Marwa Shaukat Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest General Hospital and Research Center, Peshawar, Pakistan
Abdul Muqeet Ahmad Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdullah Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Kabir Iqbal Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Syeda Romesa Sana Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Shumayel Ashraf Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Amber Ahmad Khattak Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Muhammad Nabeel Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
Somia Mazhar Department of Biomedical Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Jamal Shah Department of Medicine and Surgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v7i05.1086

Keywords:

Healthcare Providers, Medical Ethics, Public Health, Ethical literacy

Abstract

Medical ethics knowledge and practice by healthcare providers is an incredibly critical topic in today's highly advanced and demanding medical care. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate medical students regarding medical ethics, and to compare the results among the students of public and private medical colleges of Peshawar. Methods: Over the course of six months, 1203 undergraduate students from a variety of fields participated in an observational cross-sectional study. A standardized questionnaire about medical ethics knowledge, attitudes, and demographics was filled out by the participants. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used in the analysis of the data using SPSS version 27.0 to look for differences between groups. Results: A total of 1203 undergraduate students were enrolled in the study; 60.2% of the participants were men and 39.6% were women. Of these, 66.9% have previously studied medical ethics. 2.1% of the participants had poor knowledge of medical ethics, 26.8% had average knowledge, and 71.1% had good knowledge. Furthermore, 76.2% of students thought that medical ethics ought to be taught in undergraduate programs. While 41.1% of respondents said that medical ethics were merely important to avoid legal issues, 42% of respondents believed that doctors may occasionally act unethically. Conclusions: The study concluded that students in the public and private sectors both possess an adequate amount of knowledge regarding medical ethics. Additionally, students in both fields demonstrate a positive attitude toward the application of medical ethics in the medical field

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