Self-Reported Academic Misconduct among Medical Students: Perception and Prevalence

Abstract

Academic integrity is the basis of an education system and must be taught as an ethical behavior during academic training. Students who reflect honesty and truthfulness during the academic years are more likely to follow this path, develop professional integrity, and thus become responsible and dependable professionals. Here, we determine the prevalence of academic lapses among medical students by a cross-sectional descriptive survey based on a self-assessment questionnaire. Students’ perception of 37 behaviors comprising five domains, plagiarism, indolence, cheating, disruptive behavior, and falsifying data, were explored. A high percentage of students (83%) indicated that all 37 behaviors constitute misconduct. Approximately 65% of students thought that their fellow students were involved in dishonest behaviors, and 34% answered that they were indulged in some form of misconduct. Content analysis identified some prevalent behaviors such as doing work for another student (82.5%), getting information from the students who already took the exam (82.5%), copying the answer from neighbors (79%), and marking attendance for absent friends (74.5%). Multiple regression analysis points out that future indulgence in a behavior is significantly ( p ≤ 0.5 ) correlated with understanding a behavior as wrong, perceiving that others do it and whether one has already indulged in it. This study can serve as a diagnostic tool to analyze the prevalence of misconduct and a foothold to develop the medical school system’s ethical guidelines.

Is Future of Medicine Safe in the Hands of Young Medical Practitioners? Perceptions of Medical Students Regarding Academic Misconduct

“…Evidence has suggested that students themselves have reported about misconduct and confess that they knew their fellow students were involved in some types of dishonest behavior as also suggested by participants of this study. 5 A study conducted in Malaysia reporting misconduct by students suggested proactive role of stakeholders of universities to address these issues. 13 Many students of current study from early years have not considered different scenarios wrong of fictitious student.…”

“…For medical students it is more vital as in future the academic integrity is converted into professional integrity. 5 This integrity must be promoted by students and faculty as well, and should be inculcated from very beginning. Dundee poly-professionalism inventory-1 based on 45 items explore students' perceptions as recommended by General Medical Council GMC in areas of fraud and dishonesty and has also been validated for South Asian countries to evaluate professionalism.…”