Research Article

Self-Reported Academic Misconduct among Medical Students: Perception and Prevalence

Table 1

Self-reported behavior of medical students regarding academic dishonesty.

S. no.BehavioursQ1: perception
Is this wrong? N (%)
Q2: perceived prevalence
Do you think fellow students do this? N (%)
Q3: prevalence
Have you ever done this in the present course? N (%)
Q4: future indulgence
Would you do this in the present course? N (%)
Type of misconduct

1Take the idea or work from a fellow student and pass it as one’s own171 (85.5)158 (79)99 (49.5)29 (14.5)P
2Resubmitting work already submitted for another assignment163 (81.5)134 (67)79 (39.5)38 (19)P
3Copying the text directly from a source153 (76.5)165 (82.5)103 (51.5)58 (29)P
4Missing lectures frequently170 (85)172 (86)90 (45)63 (31.5)I
5Failing to follow the standard infection control protocols172 (86)135 (67.5)48 (24)20 (10)I
6Lack of punctuality for classes177 (88.5)164 (82)83 (41.5)40 (20)I
7Photographing cadavers or dissected materials124 (62)167 (83.5)91 (45.5)53 (56.5)I
8Altering the data to get the desired result171 (85.5)157 (78.5)107 (53.5)74 (37)C
9Doing the work for another student91 (45.5)167 (83.5)165 (82.5)114 (57)C
10Giving help for coursework against the rule157 (78.5)167 (83.5)109 (54.5)60 (30)C
11Claiming teamwork as individual work175 (87.5)136 (68)77 (38.5)25 (12.5)C
12Paying a fellow student for completion of course work132 (66)80 (40)53 (26.5)39 (19.5)C
13Citing the sources not fully read172 (86)147 (73.5)89 (44.5)39 (19.5)C
14Accessing the papers which have not been released to the whole class174 (87)137 (68.5)62 (31)39 (19.5)C
15Using personal relationships or bribes to get an academic advantage181 (90.5)139 (69.5)58 (29)43 (21.5)C
16Copying answers from a neighbor during exams136 (68)180 (90)158 (79)132 (66)C
17Exchanging answers using mobile phones during exams184 (92)144 (72)65 (32.5)16 (8)C
18Getting information about the exam from students who have already taken the exam119 (59.5)184 (92)165 (82.5)142 (71)C
19Passing information about the exam to students who have to take the exam113 (56.5)177 (88.5)143 (71.5)131 (65.5)C
20Taking unauthorized materials in the exam187 (93.5)133 (66.5)21 (10.5)10 (5)C
21Sitting in the exam for someone else or someone else sitting in the exam for you191 (95.5)96 (28)13 (6.5)4 (2)C
22Removing a reference from the library shelf to prevent other students from gaining access to the information188 (94)76 (38)4 (2)12 (6)D
23Deliberately damaging another student’s work185 (92.5)70 (35)8 (4)7 (3.5)D
24Creating circumstances to delay the exams151 (75.5)139 (69.5)90 (45)78 (39)D
25Abusing a university employee or a student181 (90.5)119 (59.5)32 (16)11 (5.5)D
26Physically assaulting a university employee or a student184 (92)117 (58.5)18 (9)15 (7.5)D
27Drug abuse184 (92)126 (63)16 (8)7 (3.5)D
28Providing illegal drugs to the students186 (93)84 (42)38 (19)11 (5.5)D
29Damaging public property178 (89)144 (72)29 (14.5)24 (12)D
30Inappropriate materials about students or teachers on social media184 (92)111 (55.5)16 (8)8 (4)D
31Inappropriate presentation of medicine on social media181 (90.5)66 (33)22 (11)13 (6.5)D
32Marking attendance sheet for absent friends143 (71.5)181 (90.5)149 (74.5)130 (65)F
33Examining the patients without the consent of the supervisor180 (90)153 (76.5)45 (22.5)17 (8.5)F
34Forging a health care worker’s signature175 (87.5)121 (60.5)38 (19)18 (9)F
35Falsifying grades on CV or treatment sheets185 (92.5)58 (29)6 (3)9 (4.5)F
36Making false entries in logbooks163 (81.5)119 (59.5)70 (35)62 (31)F
37Presenting false certificates177 (88.5)63 (31.5)12 (6)16 (8)F

Average “yes” answers (%)83.065.034.123.2

The table lists the 37 behaviors of Dundee Polyprofessional Inventory-1 customized for Pakistani medical colleges relating to academic misconduct. Four questions, Q1–Q4, were asked to the participants in yes/no format. The data presented here indicate the number of “yes” answers for each question. N represents the number, and % represents the percentage of participants of total (N = 200) answering as “yes.” The types of misconduct are represented by plagiarism (P), indolence (I), cheating (C), disruptive behavior (D), and falsifying data (F).