Knowledge and Attitude About Research Ethics Among Iranian Dental Students

This cross-section study was conducted on 307 dental students selected through the census sampling method. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 12 items about knowledge and 17 items about attitude toward research ethics. Data analyzed in SPSS software using t-test and linear regression test. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

Of the respondents, 33.9% were male and 66.1% were female, and 44% had good knowledge and 20.8% had a positive attitude about research ethics. A significant correlation was found between knowledge and attitude. A significant correlation was also observed between knowledge and participation in research workshops. Knowledge and attitude showed no significant correlation with gender or year of admission.

Conclusion:

Participants had appropriate knowledge and attitude about research ethics. There is some room for improvement in research ethics education concerning experimental works and retrospective studies on biologic samples. Holding research workshops with an introduction to ethical codes of research is recommended.

Keywords:
Bioethics; Ethics, Research; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Students, Dental

Variables	N	%
Gender
Male	104	33.9
Female	199	64.8
No answer	4	1.33
Participated in research methodology workshops
Yes	140	45.6
No	167	54.4
Participated in medical ethics course
Yes	57	18.5
No	240	78.2
Had research proposals
Yes	66	21.5
No	241	78.5
Published papers
Yes	53	17.3
No	254	82.8
Participated in scientific congresses
Yes	123	40.1
No	184	59.9
Participated in medical ethics workshops
Yes	66	21.5
No	241	78.5
Interested in taking the research ethics course
Yes	111	36.2
No	196	63.9

Variables			Mean	Standard Deviation	p-value
Participated in researchmethodology workshops	Knowledge	Yes	7.93	2.71	0.010*
Participated in researchmethodology workshops	Knowledge	No	7.02	3.16	0.010*
	Attitude	Yes	39.73	11.05	0.706
	Attitude	No	39.26	9.22	0.706
Participated in ethics workshops	Knowledge	Yes	7.62	2.83	0.529
Participated in ethics workshops	Knowledge	No	7.37	3.06	0.529
	Attitude	Yes	38.25	11.75	0.291
	Attitude	No	39.88	9.41	0.291
Had research proposals	Knowledge	Yes	7.06	3.03	0.272
Had research proposals	Knowledge	No	7.53	2.90	0.272
	Attitude	Yes	37.63	11.78	0.150
	Attitude	No	40.02	9.49	0.150
Published papers	Knowledge	Yes	6.96	2.48	0.228
Published papers	Knowledge	No	7.52	3.04	0.228
	Attitude	Yes	40.64	9.67	0.000*
	Attitude	No	33.85	9.87	0.000*
Participated in scientific congresses	Knowledge	Yes	7.98	2.67	0.042*
Participated in scientific congresses	Knowledge	No	7.16	3.17	0.042*
	Attitude	Yes	40.01	11.33	0.525
	Attitude	No	39.19	9.17	0.525
Participated in medical ethics workshops	Knowledge	Yes	7.33	2.58	0.754
Participated in medical ethics workshops	Knowledge	No	7.46	3.04	0.754
	Attitude	Yes	40.18	9.23	0.051*
	Attitude	No	36.72	12.46	0.051*
Interested in taking the research ethics course	Knowledge	Yes	7.52	2.72	0.680
Interested in taking the research ethics course	Knowledge	No	7.37	3.15	0.680
	Attitude	Yes	38.75	10.77
	Attitude	No	39.87	9.64
Gender	Knowledge	Male	7.03	3.30
Gender	Knowledge	Female	7.69	2.81
	Attitude	Male	38.81	11.04	0.041
	Attitude	Female	39.89	9.56	0.041

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[1] Correspondence: Marzieh Karimi Afshar, Orthodontics Department, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Shafa Ave, Jomhoori Islami BLVD, Kerman 7618759689, Iran. E-mail: marzieh.k.afshar@gmail.com