IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Education and Evaluation (IJEE )

E-ISSN 2489-0073
P-ISSN 2695-1940
VOL. 9 NO. 7 2023

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Medical Ethics Education: Doctors’ Experience and Perception of Its Impact in Child Healthcare in A Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Timipah Peregba West, Petronila Nnenna Tabansi, Iroro E. Yarhere, Kanu E.O. Nkanginieme

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Abstract

There is increasing awareness of the importance of medical ethics education in Paediatrics. This questionnaire-based study sought to determine doctors’ experience and perception of medical ethics education in child healthcare at a Teaching Hospital. Doctors’ socio-demographics, medical ethics education, limitations to its application and measures to improve their practice of medical ethics in child healthcare were sought. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Out of the 294 doctors, 239 (81.3%) and 156 (53.1%) had medical ethics lectures as undergraduates and postgraduates respectively. Two hundred and twenty-three (75.9%) agreed that the knowledge they had acquired had been useful in child healthcare while 77.2% cited a strong influence of parents’ socio-cultural beliefs and practices as limitations. Majority, 75.9%, wanted more practical sessions/workshops on medical ethics, while others wanted more undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Improved medical ethics curriculum, implementation, adaptation to positive socio-cultural beliefs/customs and institutional support is required for improved child healthcare.

keywords:

Medical ethics; Education; Undergraduates; Postgraduates; Child healthcare

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