Medical students and controversial ethical issues: results from the multicenter study SBRAME

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Bioethics
• Medical Education

Background:

• Medical students (MS) encounter ethical dilemmas throughout their careers.
• Understanding MS perspectives on controversial ethical issues is crucial for medical education.
• Factors influencing these opinions require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate medical students' opinions on controversial ethical issues.
• To identify factors associated with these opinions, including religious beliefs and university characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study, SBRAME (Spirituality and Brazilian Medical Education), surveyed 3630 medical students from 12 Brazilian medical schools.
• Data collected included socio-demographic information, religious beliefs, and opinions on ethical issues via questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis correlated opinions with various factors.

Main Results:

• Most students accepted birth control, adult and embryonic stem cell use, and abortion for genetic reasons.
• Opinions varied on human cloning, life support withdrawal, euthanasia, and abortion for failed contraception.
• University characteristics and religious beliefs significantly correlated with opinions, more so than socio-demographic data.

Conclusions:

• Medical students hold diverse views on controversial ethical issues.
• University environment and religious beliefs appear to be stronger influences on these opinions than personal socio-demographic factors.