Validation of a Questionnaire on Bioethics and Professional Responsibility

Abstract

Introduction. Training in bioethics and professional responsibility is a relevant aspect of the education of health professionals. The aim of this study was to design and establish validity criteria for a questionnaire intended for the health sciences field, exploring perceptions and knowledge related to bioethics and professional responsibility.
Methodology. A questionnaire was developed, and its validity was assessed through (a) cultural and content review by the research team, (b) analysis by a panel of linguists, and (c) qualitative and quantitative evaluation by expert judges in bioethics. A pilot test was conducted, followed by the implementation of the instrument via Google Forms among students, faculty, and graduates of Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Dentistry at the Universidad 
Adventista del Plata.
Results. The final instrument consisted of 25 quantitative questions, seven qualitative, and five demographic. 
Of the 29 discipline-specific questions, nine corresponded to bioethics, sixteen to professional responsibility, and four were common to both topics. Seventeen questions aimed to assess knowledge, three to evaluate perceptions, and nine to gather participants’ opinions. A total of 206 valid responses were obtained. The average ages were 24 years for students, 44 for faculties, and 34 for graduates. Regarding the highest academic degree obtained (among 
faculty and graduates), approximately half (51%) held only an undergraduate degree, with no postgraduate education. The majority of responses (60%) came from the field of Medicine.
Conclusion. The questionnaire on knowledge and perceptions of bioethics and professional responsibility in the health sciences demonstrated reliable validity criteria for its application in Argentina and other Latin American countries.