Knowledge, attitude, opinion, perspective, and agreement of Palestinian medical students on strategies/recommendations to curb plagiarism: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Plagiarism is a common issue in written academic assignments and graduation theses. This multicenter study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, opinion, perspective, and agreement of Palestinian medical students on strategies/recommendations to curb plagiarism. The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire in all universities with medical education programs. The questionnaire contained 12 knowledge items, 8 attitude items, 6 opinion/perspective items, and 8 strategies/recommendations to curb plagiarism. Of the 550 invited medical students, 474 completed the study tool. Knowledge, attitude, opinion, perspective, and agreement on strategies/recommendations scores correlated positively. Higher knowledge, attitude, opinion, perspective, and agreement on strategies/recommendations scores were significantly associated with higher academic/training year, grade point average, satisfaction with academic achievement, academic writing skills, informational skills, using citation managers, receiving courses/workshops/lecturers on plagiarism, using plagiarism checking tools, and participation in a scientific paper/graduation thesis writing. Gaps in knowledge about plagiarism were identified among Palestinian medical students. Educators/trainers and other decision-makers in medical schools and higher academic institutions might use the strategies on which the students agreed to curb plagiarism.