Advancing moral sensitivity education for biomedical students, incorporating values and perspectives
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17616675 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Elianne M Gerrits (0000-0001-5805-9505, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University), A Pieterman-Bos (University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University), C M Reincke (University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University), A L Bredenoord (Erasmus University Rotterdam), M H W van Mil (University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-24 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-19 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Moral Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0305-7240 • E-ISSN: 1465-3877 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/03057240.2026.2623947 |
| OpenAlex | W7138895550 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 23 |
This study explores whether explicit perspective-taking instruction enhances moral sensitivity among biomedical students. Using an adapted version of the Test of Ethical Sensitivity in Science Plus (TESSplus) we analyzed student reflections on ethically complex scenarios, collected across three instructional conditions. Our adapted moral sensitivity scoring guide emphasizes recognition and articulation of moral values, and we introduce a complementary framework to assess perspective-taking. Quantitative results showed that our distinct perspective-taking instructions did not significantly influence moral sensitivity scores. However, regardless of instruction, students who more frequently considered perspectives received moderately higher moral sensitivity scores. Qualitative analysis revealed distinct reflection patterns and four relevant skills for improving moral sensitivity: actively distinguishing moral from non-moral values and factual information, articulating moral concerns clearly, recognizing conflicting values, and adopting others’ perspectives to identify relevant moral considerations from their viewpoint. These findings offer practical guidance for ethics education aimed at fostering moral sensitivity
Higher education · Moral development · Moral disengagement · Moral education · Values Education · Ethics in Business and Education · Ethics in medical practice · Innovations in Medical Education
| Highly cited | No |
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