Table 4 Correlation between knowledge and attitudes of medical postgraduates toward research ethics and research ethics committees
Question | Research ethics | Research ethics committees | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median (IQR) | p-value* | Median (IQR) | p-value* | |
Are you familiar with ethical guidelines for research on human subjects? | Â | Â | ||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.59-4.00) | 0.005 | 3.90 (3.70–4.20) | 0.003 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.50-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.78 (3.44-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.60-4.00) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  | 0.115 |  | 1.000 |
    No vs. Yes |  | 0.003 |  | 0.013 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  | 0.973 |  | 0.018 |
Did you attend a course on research ethics or bioethics? | Â | Â | ||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.44-4.00) | 0.076 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.154 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.60-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 4.00 (3.50–4.56) |  | 3.80 (3.40-4.00) |  |
Did you attend workshops or lectures on research ethics? | Â | Â | ||
    Yes | 3.78 (3.67–4.28) | 0.000 | 3.90 (3.60–4.20) | 0.014 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.60-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.78 (3.33–4.11) |  | 3.80 (3.58-4.00) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  | 0.827 |  | 1.000 |
    No vs. Yes |  | 0.000 |  | 0.022 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  | 1.000 |  | 0.176 |
Is there a research ethical training program available for all medical postgraduates at your university? | ||||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.44-4.00) | 0.809 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.985 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.90 (3.45–4.20) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.56–4.18) |  |
Do you know of any committees/ organizations that review the ethical aspects of research? | ||||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.56-4.00) | 0.230 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.171 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.40-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33–4.14) |  | 3.80 (3.50–4.10) |  |
Do you think that such a research ethics committee would be helpful? | Â | Â | ||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.44-4.00) | 0.099 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.003 |
    No | 3.44 (3.22-4.00) |  | 3.65 (3.13-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.62 (3.22-4.00) |  | 3.70 (3.33–3.98) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  |  |  | 1.000 |
    No vs. Yes |  |  |  | 0.044 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  |  |  | 0.040 |
Are you fully aware of the functions of research ethics committees? | ||||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.67–4.22) | 0.001 | 3.80 (3.70–4.20) | 0.019 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.60-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.50–4.10) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  | 1.000 |  | 1.000 |
    No vs. Yes |  | 0.002 |  | 0.025 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  | 0.010 |  | 0.109 |
Does your university or hospital have a research ethics committee? | ||||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.44-4.00) | 0.415 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.063 |
    No | 3.73 (3.19-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.20-4.00) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33–4.06) |  | 3.80 (3.40-4.00) |  |
To your knowledge, are there any laws, regulations, or methods overseeing research ethics in mainland China? | ||||
    Yes | 3.67 (3.44-4.00) | 0.328 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.310 |
    No | 3.56 (3.28–4.34) |  | 3.80 (3.35–4.20) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.50-4.00) |  |
Are you aware of China’s Good Clinical Practice and Standard for Quality Management of Medical Device Clinical Trials? | ||||
    Yes | 3.78 (3.56–4.11) | 0.001 | 3.80 (3.70–4.10) | 0.001 |
    No | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.90 (3.60–4.10) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33–3.89) |  | 3.80 (3.40-4.00) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  | 0.514 |  | 0.018 |
    No vs. Yes |  | 0.000 |  | 0.000 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  | 0.105 |  | 1.000 |
Do you know of China’s Operational Guideline for Ethic Review of Biomedical Research Involving Human Subject? | ||||
    Yes | 3.78 (3.56–4.11) | 0.000 | 3.80 (3.60–4.10) | 0.039 |
    No | 3.56 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.60–4.03) |  |
    Uncertain | 3.67 (3.33-4.00) |  | 3.80 (3.50-4.00) |  |
    No vs. Uncertain |  | 1.000 |  | 0.865 |
    No vs. Yes |  | 0.000 |  | 0.829 |
    Uncertain vs. Yes |  | 0.002 |  | 0.038 |