An Insight Into Research Ethics among Dental Professionals in A Dental Institute, India- A Pilot Study.
BACKGROUND
Research activities are increasing in all the fields of medicine including dentistry but there is dearth of information about the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of dental professionals for ethical principles in research, especially in the developing countries like India.


OBJECTIVE
To assess knowledge, attitude and behaviour among dental professionals pertaining to research ethics.


METHODS
A self-administered, close ended questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was conducted in a private dental institute in India. All the house-surgeons, post-graduate students and the faculty of the same institute were included for the assessment of the knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding research ethics using a 24, 8 and 8 items.


RESULTS
A total of 213 of 230 dental professionals participated (response rate of 92.6%). Mean knowledge, attitude and behaviour scores were 43.3%, 82.5% and 46.37%, respectively. Significant correlations were observed of age and gender with the attitude about the research ethics among study subjects (χ(2)=14.383, p=0.006 and χ(2)=7.769, p=0.021, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Participants had favorable attitude towards research ethics, but their knowledge and behaviour needs considerable improvements. The age and gender were associated with attitude. The present pilot study highlights the need for further nationwide study and development of research ethics curriculum in detail for dental education in India.
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital , Wardha, India .
Shravani G
SG
Deolia
Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Dharwad, India .
Kvv
K
Prasad
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Jodhpur Dental College General Hospital , Jodhpur, India .
Kumar Gaurav
KG
Chhabra
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Dharwad, India .
Ramya
R
Kalyanpur
Assistant Professsor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mansarovar Dental College , Bhopal, India .
Shrivardhan
S
Kalghatgi
Awareness; Dentists; Ethical research