CENTRE FOR BIOETHICS
The Centre for Bioethics is engaged in research and expert activity in the field of ethics. Ethics is by its nature part of a critically working philosophy. At the same time, it is a normative field, both of which raise certain heuristic problems and peculiarities in the approach to research: among other reasons, an interdisciplinary team of experts from the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and other university or academy staff and other departments has been created. In particular, the team is involved in the research project "Goals of medicine: quality of life" number CEZ:J13/98:111100007 assigned by the Czech government with the task of refining the otherwise key concept of health in medicine. The results obtained are published in foreign and Czech journals or monographs and presented at conferences and other international meetings; every year the Centre for Bioethics organises a symposium with foreign participation on a specific topic within the research itself and also cooperates in other forms with various organisations at home and abroad (e.g. Hastings Center in New York, University of Linköping, University of Würzburg, University of Wittenberg and others). Some of the team are also members of various other expert bodies (the Society of Medical Ethics of the Czech Medical Society of Jan Evangelista Purkyně) and committees (the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, the Bioethics Committee of the Council of the Government of the Czech Republic) and within these bodies they participate in the drafting of various documents and laws.
In 2015, the Centre published the book "Good or Better Life?" (authors Jan Payne, David Černý, Adam Doležal et al.), which can be freely downloaded HERE.
Doc. MUDr. PhDr. Jan Payne, PhD.
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
The Psychophysiology Laboratory has been in operation since January 2005 and is a facility dedicated to basic and clinically oriented research in psychophysiology and cognitive neuroscience. The aim of this research is to study the relationship between psychological and physiological functions, especially in cases of dissociative phenomena, depression and schizophrenia. In addition to scientific activities, the mission of the laboratory is also a pedagogical activity, mainly aimed at doctoral students and their participation in the scientific work of the laboratory. Since 2006, the laboratory has been involved in the research project of the Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research on Traumatic Stress in cooperation with the Psychiatric Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, the Institute of Physiology of MU and the Day Psychiatric Sanatorium Nad Ondřejov. From the point of view of the Psychophysiological Laboratory, this project represents a contribution to research aimed at the application of the acquired psychophysiological knowledge in the diagnosis and indication of anticonvulsant treatment in patients diagnosed with depressive disorders, schizophrenia or schizoaffective psychosis. The Psychophysiology Laboratory is also involved in the second year of the Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Neurodegenerative Diseases research project together with the Psychiatric and Neurological Clinics.
doc. RNDr. Petr Bob, Ph.D.
RESEARCH ON THE MOTIVATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS TOWARDS THEIR STUDIES AND PROFESSION
At our institute we conduct an annual research on the motivation of medics to study and profession. The research is carried out in some circles of 3rd year studies within the framework of seminars. As part of the orientation research, the professional motives of the students are ascertained, both the motives attributed by the students to others and their own motives. In addition, influences on students' decision-making prior to entering the faculty and influences that influence students during their studies and subsequently modify their motivation for the profession are also investigated.
The most frequent motives and influences, the intensity of which students assess in themselves and in others in a special questionnaire, were determined statistically in the framework of the pre-study. These motives and influences are:
Motives:
- "altruism": physical and psychological help, healing, rescue, sacrifice, mission, meaningful work,
- "prestige": career, social status, title, authority, recognition by patients, important people, contact with different people,
- "dominance": power, authority, making decisions about others, manipulation, dominance, dependence, controlling others,
- "interest": in biology, chemistry, science, the complexity of medicine, knowing more about oneself and the workings of the body, science,
- "illness": illness and death in loved ones, giving them the best treatment, own illness, fear of illness and death, as a doctor I will not be sick, overcoming death, overcoming my own fear of doctors and interventions,
- "economic": financial reward, gifts from patients, benefits from pharmaceutical companies,
- "tradition": doctor in the family, family pressure, take over the practice, expectations from parents,
- "ambition": to prove something to oneself or to someone, to discover new methods and drugs, to master a difficult university.
Reported influences acting to change motivation during study:
- "educator": influence of the teacher in lectures and seminars,
- "study": the influence of study results and exams,
- 'practice': students' practice in departments as part of their teaching,
- 'doctors': doctors accompanying students in their practice,
- 'classmates': the influence of classmates in study circles or colleges,
- 'outside': influence from outside the school, e.g. family, friends, partners.
Influences on the decision to study:
- "family": parents, siblings, extended family,
- 'Friends': friends, acquaintances,
- "teacher": a teacher of biology, etc., at an elementary or secondary school,
- "role model": a doctor in the area,
- "character from a work of art": film, book, television,
- "experience of illness": family, self, friends.