Comparison of Effectiveness of Theoretical Training Versus Operational Training in Psychiatric Medical Ethics

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of theoretical training versus practical training of medical ethics to the students in the Psychiatric ward.

The research method was quasi-experimental. The study population consisted of all medical students undergoing an internship in a psychiatric ward in Ardabil Fatemi hospital. Students were evaluated from April 2016 to June 2016. Using a convenience sampling method, 36 individuals were selected and randomly assigned in two groups: 18 students in the theoretical training group (group 1) and 18 students in the operational training group (Group 2). Moral Competence Questionnaire and Professional Ethics Checklist in psychiatry were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software. Mean and standard deviation, ttest and Cohen's effect size index were used for statistical analysis.

The results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the two groups in the Moral Competence Questionnaire and the pre-test of the Professional Ethics Checklist. After the training, the mean scores of group 2 were significantly higher than group 1 in the post-test. The two large differences were in Autonomy and Privacy respectively. Finally, according to Cohen's scale, the effectiveness of practical training was greater than theoretical training. Ethical Considerations: Making students aware of the research, and getting informed consent, keeping confidentiality of individual results, not involving results in the evaluation of students' educational performance.

Practical training of professional ethics was more effective than theoretical training and merely emphasizing on theoretical training could not lead to adherence to professional ethics. Therefore, it is essential that during general practitioners' training, in addition to theoretical classes, other practical methods be used.