Theart Cecilia J, Smit Ilze
Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Curationis. 2012 Jun 20;35(1):27. doi: 10.4102/curationis.v35i1.27.
Honesty is regarded as a basic ethical value in all educational programmes, and academic integrity is of undisputed importance in educational environments. The literature reviewed revealed that academic dishonesty is wide-ranging and also encountered in the nursing education environment. This phenomenon is of concern to the nursing fraternity because of the proven positive correlation between unethical academic practices and future unethical professional behaviour. Limited research data regarding academic dishonesty at nursing education institutions in South Africa and this correlation motivated the present study. The purpose was to examine the status of academic integrity amongst nursing students at a nursing education institution in the Western Cape. Formulated objectives guided investigation of several variables which impact upon academic integrity, for example the incidence of and student perceptions around academic dishonesty. A quantitative, descriptive survey design was used, with a self-reported questionnaire (based on literature review and study objectives) designed to obtain information about academic dishonesty. Provision was also made for qualitative input from the respondents by including three open-ended questions. It was found that academic dishonesty was a reality at the nursing education institution where this study was done. Cheating associated with plagiarism and assignments was identified as the main problem area. An unacceptably high level of dishonesty in completion of practical records was also an area of concern. The main recommendations are development and implementation of a code of honour and implementation of comprehensive academic integrity policies at the nursing education institution, with practical measures aimed at combating cheating in tests and examinations.
在所有教育项目中，诚实都被视为一项基本的道德价值，而学术诚信在教育环境中具有无可争议的重要性。所查阅的文献表明，学术不诚实行为范围广泛，在护理教育环境中也存在。由于已证实不道德的学术行为与未来不道德的职业行为之间存在正相关，这一现象引起了护理界的关注。关于南非护理教育机构学术不诚实行为以及这种相关性的研究数据有限，这激发了本研究。目的是调查西开普省一所护理教育机构中护理专业学生的学术诚信状况。制定的目标指导了对影响学术诚信的几个变量的调查，例如学术不诚实行为的发生率以及学生对其的看法。采用了定量描述性调查设计，使用一份自我报告问卷（基于文献综述和研究目标）来获取有关学术不诚实行为的信息。还通过设置三个开放式问题，为受访者提供了定性反馈的机会。结果发现，在开展本研究的护理教育机构中，学术不诚实行为是一个现实问题。与抄袭和作业相关的作弊被确定为主要问题领域。实践记录完成过程中存在的不可接受的高度不诚实行为也是一个令人担忧的领域。主要建议包括在护理教育机构制定并实施荣誉准则以及全面的学术诚信政策，同时采取实际措施来打击考试作弊行为。
