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.