Perceived ethical competencies in doctoral research in the health field

Introduction Ethical competencies of researchers contribute to ensuring scientific integrity, professional responsibility, and the protection of study participants. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived ethical competencies of doctoral students conducting research in the health field. Materials and methods This paper presents a comprehensive cross-sectional study. Out of the total number of doctoral students (N=416), 274 participants completed the online questionnaire (response rate: 65.9%). The study questionnaire contained statements related to ethical competencies, self-assessed on a Likert scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and association tests (χ², t-test, Mann–Whitney). Results The overall mean score of perceived ethical competencies was 4.01, indicating a high level of confidence in respondents’ own abilities. The highest scores were reported for competencies related to protecting the confidentiality of participants’ data, honest reporting of research results, and obtaining informed consent. Participants who had received training in research ethics reported significantly higher mean scores compared to those without such training (p < 0.05). Conclusions Doctoral students report a high level of perceived ethical competencies; however, gaps remain in the areas of regulatory framework knowledge and methodological aspects of research, suggesting the need to strengthen targeted training in research ethics.