Ethics University on Regenerative Medicine - As an Instrument for the Development of Valid Public Opinions?

Abstract

In 2016, we invited interested citizens to participate in the "ethics university on regenerative medicine" at Hannover Medical School. The present study analyses if and how this discursive and informative event inspired participants to form their own opinion on the issues at hand and to develop their general ethics literacy. The "ethics university" was performed twice in 2016; each run consisted of four single consecutive events. Lectures were combined with interactive learning stations, and group discussions. Opinions and information level of all participants were surveyed by means of a postal questionnaire before and after the course to detect any changes of opinions and information levels; additionally, we surveyed participants' self-assessment. Participants of the second run were asked to form a waiting list control group to compare results from first run-participants. Furthermore, we conducted a content analysis of group discussions during the ethics university. Of 168 participants of both runs, 101 took part in the pre/post-survey. In addition, 30 questionnaires of the waiting list control group were analysed. Participants showed a higher level of information after the ethics university (changes between 0.75 and 1.93 points on a five-point scale). Between 50.5 and 66.0% of participants indicated that their opinion on different issues had become either more affirmative or more disapprobative as a result of attending the ethics university. On average, opinions were more positive after participation (between 0.44 and 1.0 points on a 5-point scale). Respondents in the waiting list control group showed no changes in opinion or information level. Participants themselves felt that they formed their opinions mainly on the basis of information they received in lectures, conversations with experts, interactive learning sessions, and written information. However, for many participants, interacting with other participants in the group discussions, as well as reflecting their own views was an important to forming informed opinions. Results of the evaluation show that participants were inspired to form their own opinions by the ethics university and to develop their ethics literacy (e. g. ability to reflect on normative questions). For future ethics universities, the group of participants should be as diverse as possible. In addition, interactive and discursive elements should be given a higher priority.