Attitude Toward Plagiarism Among Nursing Faculty in India: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract

Background

Academic integrity is necessary for maintaining the highest standards in any healthcare profession, including nursing. Plagiarism poses a serious threat to it. This study is aimed at thoroughly investigating the attitude toward plagiarism (ATP) and its correlation with personal factors among nursing faculty in India.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed among 215 nursing college faculty using a structured questionnaire built in Google Forms and was shared in professional WhatsApp groups across India. The questionnaire had 29 items, which included the ATP under three attitudinal factors: positive attitude, negative attitude, and subjective norms. Institutional Ethics Committee approval was obtained prior; informed consent was taken from the participants.

Result

The mean age of the subjects in this study was 34.7 years, and 79.5% were female. Our study noted that 54.4% (95% CI: 47.7%–61%) had an antiplagiarism attitude. Factors, namely, designation, number of publications, experience as a research guide, and years of such experience, were significantly associated with a positive ATP using binary logistic regression. In multivariate binary regression analysis, those who had >15 publications and 1–3 years of experience as a research guide had 4.9 times (95% CI: 1.9–16.1) and 3.1 times (95% CI: 1.4–6.9) higher chance, respectively, toward antiplagiarism attitude.

Conclusion

Nearly half of the participants, and those with a higher number of publications and experience as a research guide, had an antiplagiarism attitude. Hence, encouraging nursing faculty to get involved in publication and orienting them on plagiarism-free research could inculcate a favorable attitude.