Tracking changes in medical students’ perceptions of academic ethics: a longitudinal study

Purpose: Medical students are expected to cultivate professionalism as a core competency, which is reflected in their perceptions of academic ethics. This study examined how students’ perceptions of academic ethics, both for themselves and their peers, evolve during their time in medical school and whether these changes differ by sex. Methods: We surveyed 87 medical students enrolled in a South Korean medical school in the years 2020 and 2023. The survey was designed to measure medical students’ perceptions of academic ethics and comprised questions regarding both self-perception and peer perception. Data analysis was performed using paired t-tests. Results: Both male and female students reported continuous improvement in their academic ethics as they progressed through medical school. Female rated their academic ethics more highly than male and demonstrated a more significant change in scores over time. Additionally, female observed an increase in their peers’ academic ethics, whereas men perceived a decline. Notably, upper-year students rated their peers’ academic ethics more favorably than did lower-year students. Conclusion: This study reveals differences in the evolution of academic ethics perceptions between male and female students, highlighting the need for sex-specific academic ethics education in medical school curricula. Moreover, it demonstrates how medical students’ perceptions of academic ethics evolve over time, emphasizing the importance of academic ethics education across school years. These findings offer practical insights for improving medical school curricula and underscore the potential of academic ethics education in fostering ethical awareness among future medical professionals.