Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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Animal and Human Experiments in Medical Curriculum: Students' Attitudes and Ethical Issues


Affiliations
1 Department of Physiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere 577 005, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Forensic Medicine, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere 577 005, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere 577 004, Karnataka, India
     

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This study reveals the attitudes of medical students towards animal and human experiments. About 100 medical students [44 males and 56 females] who have performed animal and human experiments were subjected to a questionnaire method. The questionnaire consisted of, in part, statements for which the students responded using a five point Likert type scale. Several open ended questions pointing towards ethical issues in experimentation were also given to students and they were asked to list advantages and disadvantages of animal and human experiments. About 87% of the students preferred human experiments [P<0.05]. This preference was related more to issue of more informative and easy to perform human experiments rather than enjoyability and overall understanding of the experiments. A good number of students identified difficulties and ethical issues related to animal experiments. Present study shows that, medical students prefer introduction of large number of human experiments, though they realize the importance and value of animal experiments.

Keywords

Attitudes, Medical Students, Animal Experiments
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  • Animal and Human Experiments in Medical Curriculum: Students' Attitudes and Ethical Issues

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Authors

Chandrashekhar Karpoor
Department of Physiology, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere 577 005, Karnataka, India
Vijay Jatti
Department of Forensic Medicine, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere 577 005, Karnataka, India
Savitha S. Shettar
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere 577 004, Karnataka, India

Abstract


This study reveals the attitudes of medical students towards animal and human experiments. About 100 medical students [44 males and 56 females] who have performed animal and human experiments were subjected to a questionnaire method. The questionnaire consisted of, in part, statements for which the students responded using a five point Likert type scale. Several open ended questions pointing towards ethical issues in experimentation were also given to students and they were asked to list advantages and disadvantages of animal and human experiments. About 87% of the students preferred human experiments [P<0.05]. This preference was related more to issue of more informative and easy to perform human experiments rather than enjoyability and overall understanding of the experiments. A good number of students identified difficulties and ethical issues related to animal experiments. Present study shows that, medical students prefer introduction of large number of human experiments, though they realize the importance and value of animal experiments.

Keywords


Attitudes, Medical Students, Animal Experiments

References