A study on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of research integrity among medical professionals in Ningxia, China

Abstract

Background This study utilizes a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) questionnaire to investigate the awareness of medical professionals in the Ningxia region regarding research integrity and their attitudes towards academic misconduct. A comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to academic misconduct is performed, with the aim of providing insights for the formulation of policies to enhance research integrity. Methods This study is a cross-sectional study. It performed between May 2023 and October 2023, and the questionnaires were distributed and collected through Wenjuanxing and WeChat platforms. The research employs a self-designed KAP survey questionnaire distributed online for clinical doctors and nurses in hospital, faculty members in medical higher education institutions, and undergraduates enrolled in medical schools in the Ningxia region. Results A total of 1013 valid questionnaires were collected, with a majority of participants (76.2%) having received training in research integrity. The survey results indicate that a significant majority of participants (75.04%) cannot tolerate academic misconduct. More than 70% of respondents believe that the main reasons for academic misconduct are a lack of understanding of academic ethical norms, a deficiency in personal integrity awareness, individual inadequacy in research capabilities, and excessive pressure. When it comes to measures for academic misconduct reduction, over 70% of individuals believe that strengthening research integrity training, improving the assessment methods for research outcomes, and enhancing personal research capabilities can decrease instances of academic misconduct. Most respondents demonstrated a basic understanding of research integrity and maintained a resistant attitude towards academic misconduct. However, there exists an insufficient awareness of certain forms of academic misconduct. The study recommends implementing multifaceted measures to enhance the ethical awareness and attitudes of researchers. Conclusion In this study, a KAP questionnaire was administered to clinicians, nurses, medical faculty and students to find out their understanding of research integrity and their attitudes towards academic misconduct. Most of the respondents had a negative attitude towards academic misconduct, but their understanding of research integrity could be improved. Furthermore, university teachers’ understanding of research integrity and their attitudes towards academic misconduct were better than other groups, and university students had lower scores in this area, so it is recommended to take various measures to improve their understanding of research integrity.