The ethical climate in academic dentistry in India: faculty and student perceptions

The aims of this study were to describe both the ethical climate in a private dental institution in India and the possible influence of selected factors in influencing faculty and students' perception of their institution's ethical environment. The Ethical-Climate Questionnaire and the General-Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were completed by twenty-eight full-time faculty and forty-seven final-year undergraduate students. Results showed that, overall, the study population had a mixed opinion about the ethical climate in their institution. Psychological distress and academic experience played an important role in shaping the perception of institutional ethics among the study population. The results showed that there is a need for better communication of the institution's ethical policies and better ethical training to help the faculty and students recognize their institution's commitment to ethics.