The Moral Development Based on Kohlberg's Theory  among Medical Students

Reza  Bidaki; Fatemeh  Saghafc; Mohammad  Mansouri Majoumard; Mahshid  Nadershahbaz; Maryam  Hadavi; Mohammad Ali  Sajadi; Fariba Sepehrig; Hadi  Ghazalbash; Adeleh  Sahebnasagh

doi:10.18502/jsbch.v6i1.9519

Reza Bidaki Department of Psychiatry, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran.
Fatemeh Saghafc Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Mansouri Majoumard Department of Psychiatry, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
Mahshid Nadershahbaz Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Maryam Hadavi Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Ali Sajadi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Fariba Sepehrig Department of Clinical Psychology, Yazd Diabetes Therapy Research Center, Iran.
Hadi Ghazalbash Department of Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Yazd
Adeleh Sahebnasagh Department of Surgical Medicine, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnourd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jsbch.v6i1.9519

Keywords: Ethics, Kohlberg's, Ethical Evolution, Medical Students, Moral.

Abstract

Background: One of the main issues in treating, preserving and promoting the human dignity is caring for patients' satisfaction and preventing harm, maltreatment, or damage to the patient. Therefore, the level of moral development based on Kohlberg's theory was studied among medical students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, eligible medical students (N=220) of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences were enrolled over a 12-months period. Data were collected by demographic checklist and Kohlberg's ethical evolution questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS-20, by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, ANOVA, and t-tests.

Results: There were no significant differences in terms of gender, educational level, marital status, and place of residence for decision-making positions and questions The mean and standard deviation of the scores related to “questions, priority, decision-making position and degree” showed that the highest
mean was obtained in “priority” with 17.9 ± 3.6 and the lowest in “degree” with 1. 9 ± 1.09. The frequency and percentage of similar decision-making were reported in the study participants; the highest score was related to the decision-making in position 3 (Adults death wish) with frequency of 94 and percentage of 41.6% and the lowest score was related to position 5 (Patient at the end stage of disease) with frequency of 8 and percentage of 3.5%. None of the indicators of age, sex, marital status, and the level of admission was not significant in this study and cannot be mentioned as a predicator in the stages of moral evolution.

Conclusion: Given the importance of discussing ethics as one of the most important modalities of the human and social sciences and its impressive impact on all aspects of human life, it is clear that applying a scientific approach can determine all aspects of the factors that affect the observance of ethical principles.