Faculty awareness and interest about bioethics in a private medical college of Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the awareness of bioethics among faculty at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan, and to assess their interest in becoming part of a bioethics discussion group and enhancing their knowledge of this subject. 122 faculty members from the medical college, hospital and school of nursing filled out a questionnaire on ethics. 53% were aware of bioethics as a specialty. 85% showed an interest in educating themselves further in the subject and 61% were interested in becoming part of a bioethics discussion group. Only 50 out of 122 faculty members knew what an ethical dilemma was and only 38 were able to describe one in detail. The awareness level of bioethics as a specialty increased with seniority. However the enthusiasm to join a bioethics discussion group was greater among those at a junior level.

Awareness Regarding Diabetes Mellitus among Clients Attending a Diabetes, Thyroid & Endocrinology Care Centre, Kupandole, Kathmandu

“…It is a fatal cause of morbidity and mortality because of its complicated clinical consequences. 1 Immediate planning and implementation of health measures and individual interventions are to be sought to prevent the occurrence and complications of diabetes. 2 Diabetes mellitus has emerged as one of the most challenging public problems in the 21st century.…”

Knowledge and perception about bioethics

“…Knowledge about medical ethics is limited in Pakistan in all the health care providers including students, doctors, and nurses. [ 5 6 ] These newly graduating doctors and consultants lack exposure to bioethics teaching and hence encounter problems while solving ethical issues in their daily clinical practice,[ 6 7 ] and may show unethical behaviors towards their patients leading to poor satisfaction rates among patients and their families and creating a negative image of health care providers. [ 8 ]…”

“…Despite being included as a formal subject by PMDC its status is still in infancy stage. Its implementation in medical colleges as a formal subject is still pending because of lack of uniform curriculum and limited number of formally trained doctors in bioethics to teach[ 3 7 ] this subject thus making it difficult for the dissemination of knowledge of ethics throughout the country.…”