Tomorrow's doctors admit dishonesty

Medical students were "confused" about what was acceptable

Some medical students are less than honest in their academic work, according to a new study.

An anonymous survey carried out at Dundee University found that a number of students would be prepared to act dishonestly.

The authors of the study say it does not suggest that students are dishonest - but shows that many are unclear about what is acceptable behaviour.

As a result of the survey, students are being given clearer guidelines about best practice.

We don't feel we have dishonest students. They're probably pretty normal

Joy Crosby, University of Dundee

A total of 461 medical students in all years were given various scenarios in which a fictitious student, John, acted dishonestly.

They had to say whether John was wrong and if they would have done the same.

Just 2% said they would cheat in an exam by copying answers. But 56% said they would copy directly from a published text and list it a reference, rather than making a direct quote.

Medical students - what they said

2% would copy answers in an exam

30% would lend work to other students

30% would swap information about an exam which others were still to do

30% would copy published text without appropriate referencing

One of the authors of the study, Joy Crosby, a lecturer in medical education at Dundee, said: "Most students' attitudes were that the scenarios were wrong."

"We are proud to have looked at this difficult issue. The study was carried out by a student, Dr Sarah Rennie, with the full support of the university.

"As a result of the survey, students are being given much clearer guidelines about what is allowed in various situations."

The study is published in the British Medical Journal.

Israeli academic Shimon Glick, from the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, told the BMJ medical schools should make clear to students what was expected of them from day one.

"The future of the medical profession depends on preserving and restoring public trust in doctors, but this trust must be deserved and earned."

The future of the medical profession depends on preserving and restoring public trust in doctors, but this trust must be deserved and earned

Shimon Glick, Ben Gurion University of Negev

In their study, Rennie and Crosby mentioned other attempts to show the level of academic dishonesty among medical students.

They noted a survey in 1980 of medical schools in the United States which found that 58% of students admitted cheating.

In summing up their own work they said: "Students consider dishonest behaviour is wrong and wouldn't engage in it.

"However that students did report engaging in dishonest behaviour is important and worrying."