Medical Students Hierarchy of Values and Sense of Responsibility

Abstract

Background: Ethical skills and personal values contribute to making students competent and humane physicians. However, there is not much research done on medical students' personal values and sense of responsibility. Purposes: The study was designed to examine differences in personal values and sense of responsibility between medical students and their peers. Methods: The students performed demographic survey and reliable tests: Scheler's Value Scale and Responsibility Scale. Results: Medical students scored higher in responsibility, also in values of hedonism and truth, and scored lower in values of holy, both religion and secularism. They did not differ from the control group in values of vitality, aesthetics, morals, physical fitness as well as strength and stamina. Conclusion: Medical students differ from their peers from other faculties at the level of responsibility and hierarchy of values. They rate higher at such values as hedonism and truth and lower values of holy.