Values of academic integrity in higher medical education.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The aim is to identify features of theoretical and empirical research of academic integrity as characteristics of the educational environment of medical higher education institution (hereinafter - HEI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A complex of general scientific methods: logical-analytical, dialectical, theoretical-logical, comparative analysis, formalization and generalization, as well as quantitative sociological methods for collecting, processing and analyzing information. The object of the pilot empirical study were domestic medical students of full-time education at the Bogomolets NMU (N=472) and scientific and pedagogical staff who provide teaching of fundamental, specialized and socio-humanitarian disciplines at the university (N=153). RESULTS: Results: The values of academic integrity are the moral guideline that reveals the latest ethical demands of society and regulates the educational and scientific activities of all participants in the educational process. Opinions on the primary responsibility for compliance with the rules of academic integrity of a student differ between the surveyed scientific and pedagogical staff and students (p=0.000): the vast majority of the surveyed scientific and pedagogical staff tend to evenly divide the responsibility between a teacher and a student, and the majority of students-respondents noted that the student bears the primary responsibility. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Commitment to the principles of integrity motivates both students and teaching staff to act in an academic manner. Therefore, the creation of a methodology for studying the phenomenon of academic integrity in medical higher education institution through the study of attitude of the subjects of educational process to basic values is promising.

The Risk of Melanoma due to Exposure to Sun and Solarium Use in Poland: A Large-Scale, Hospital Based Case - Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of skin cancer is constantly growing, it is considered a serious problem of public health. Most cases of skin cancer are caused by a combination of non-modifiable genetic, and modifiable environmental risk factors. The study objective was to analyse the correlation between pigmentation traits, excessive sunlight exposure, solarium use and the risk of melanoma development. METHODS: The study included 480 patients diagnosed with melanoma and 400 within the control group. Subjects diagnosed with the melanoma confirmed by histopathology were invited to take part in the study. The research was based on a clinical, direct, individual, structured, in-depth and focused interview. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 44.3 ± 7.86, while in the control group 59.5 (7.93) Most frequently, melanoma was located on the upper extremities (64%). A family history of neoplastic diseases was found in 55% of the patients. The assessment of sunburns showed that only 15%  of the respondents never experienced sunburn, 49% of the study subjects never used solarium. Among patients with multiple sunburns, the risk of developing skin cancer was 1.27 (AOR = 1,27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55) compared with non-sunburns subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Risky behaviours including excessive exposure to UV radiation, both natural and artificial, are of special significance in women with fair complexion and fair hair. Indoor tanning is a probable factor of increased skin cancer incidence in younger women, as compared to men.