Self-reported attitudes and behaviours of medical students in Pakistan regarding academic misconduct: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundHonesty and integrity are key attributes of an ethically competent physician. However, academic misconduct, which includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying documentation, is common in medical colleges across the world. The purpose of this study is to describe differences in the self-reported attitudes and behaviours of medical students regarding academic misconduct depending on gender, year of study and type of medical institution in Pakistan.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted with medical students from one private and one public sector medical college. A pre-coded questionnaire about attitudes and behaviours regarding plagiarism, lying, cheating and falsifying documentation was completed anonymously by the students.ResultsA total of 465 medical students filled the questionnaire. 53% of private medical college students reported that they recognize copying an assignment verbatim and listing sources as references as wrong compared to 35% of public medical college students. 26% of private medical college students self-report this behaviour as compared to 42% of public medical college students. 22% of private versus 15% of public medical college students and 21% of students in clinical years compared to 17% in basic science years admit to submitting a fake medical certificate to justify an absence. 87% of students at a private medical college believe that cheating in an examination is wrong as compared to 66% of public medical college students and 24% self-report this behaviour in the former group as compared to 41% in the latter. 63% of clinical year students identify cheating as wrong compared to 89% of their junior colleagues. 71% of male versus 84% of female respondents believe that cheating is wrong and 42% of males compared to 23% of females admit to cheating.ConclusionsThere are significant differences in medical students’ attitudes and behaviours towards plagiarism, lying, cheating and stealing by gender, seniority status and type of institution. The ability to identify acts of academic misconduct does not deter students from engaging in the behaviour themselves, as evidenced by self-reporting.

La integridad académica: el dilema de la formación médica

“…La frecuencia con la que se presenta este fenómeno es variable y depende de diferentes factores, como el país, el carácter público o privado de la institución educativa, el género, el periodo de estudio (preclínico o clínico) (Ghias et al, 2014). También intervienen factores como el tipo de personalidad y el trasfondo cultural (Vengoechea, Moreno y Ruíz, 2008).…”

“…Se falsean incapacidades, debido a que esta es la única excusa que es aceptada, por lo tanto "los estudiantes son forzados a mentir"; si la evaluación no es importante y tiene poco peso, no está mal copiar (Ghias et al, 2014). Ayudar a un amigo en la copia no se considera una falta (Brockbank, David y Patel, 2011).…”

“…• Mejora en la formación ética, tanto desde el currículo formal, como en el oculto, con fomento de los modelos de rol (Ghias et al, 2014). …”

Knowledge and attitude towards plagiarism: a comparative study of students from medical and non-medical fields

“…2 Defined as the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own, 3,4 plagiarism is a serious offence due to the negation of contributions of original writers, it has proven to be severely problematic. 5,6 Original source: With advances in polymer synthesis, electronics and micro/nanofabrication, contact lens sensors can be produced to quantify the concentrations of many biomolecules in ocular fluids. 12 Yes No Author's version: Farandos NM, et al, believes that certain advances in polymer synthesis and related technologies can help us quantify the concentrations of many biomolecules in ocular fluids by virtue of the development of contact lens sensors.…”

Deliberate Malfeasance or Innocent Error? Misrepresentation in Pain Medicine Fellowship Applications

“…There is evidence that gender, age, and level of medical training influence the incidence of lapses in academic integrity , with female sex, older age, and later stages of medical training correlated with the least likelihood to “cheat”. There is also evidence that desensitization toward misconduct and normalization of bad behavior does occur in medical learners.…”