ABSTRACT
Background: The evaluation of moral judgment criteria in medical students is important to develop effective educational programs in bioethics. Aim: To compare priority judgment criteria and moral judgment tendeney in medical students of first and fifth grade. Material and Methods: The Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ30), to identify moral criteria was applied to 259 students, 63.7% from first year and 50.2% women. Results: The dominant moral tendeney both in first and fifth year students was liberal. Justice and compassion were the most important criteria in men and in women, respectively. Respect towards authority and sanctity were the least important criteria in women and men, respectively. Conclusions: The implications for moral psychology and medical education of these results are discussed.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Judgment , Students, Medical , Bioethics , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Education, Medical , Ethics, Medical/education , Moral Development , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Epigenetics refers to the study of how genes produce their effect on the phenotype of the organism. This article is a review on the scope and importance of recently discovered epigenetic mechanisms on human development and their relationship to perinatal epidemiological issues. It shows a general view and present concepts about epigenetics and its contribution to the comprehension of several physiologic and pathological conditions of human beings. Secondly, it analyzes the evidence coming from epidemiological and animal studies, about the influence of events that occur in the perinatal and early postnatal periods on adult life and the possible epigenetic mechanisms involved. Lastly, it underscores the implications ofthese results of future research and the design of public policies that take into account the importance of events in early life in thefuture development of individuals.