Table 3.
Significance of differences: Cohen’s coefficients*
| Difference in the mean with SD of BDE credits between private and public medical schools | Result | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Mean of credits at private MS (6.51; SD = 2.92) vs mean of credits at public MS (2.88; SD = 1.22) |
d = 2.059>>0.8 |
Relevant |
| Mean of credits at private MS (6.51; SD = 2.92) vs total MS’ mean of credits (3.64; SD = 2.24) |
d = 1.186 > 0.8 |
Relevant |
| Mean of credits at public MS (2.88; SD = 1.22) vs total MS’ mean of credits (3.64; SD = 2.24) | d = 0.403 < 0.5 | Small |
| Difference in the mean with SD of BDE credits between religious or secular schools | Result | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Mean of credits at religious MS (7.56; SD = 2.98) vs mean of credits at secular MS (3.00; SD = 1.29) | d = 2.755>>0.8 | Relevant |
| Difference in the mean with SD of BDE credits between the 10 oldest MS and 10 most recently founded schools | Result | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Mean of credits at the 10 oldest MS (2.63; SD = 1.36) vs mean of credits at the 10 most recently founded schools (5.86; SD = 2.72) | d = 1.430 > 0.8 | Relevant |
| Difference between the mean with SD of credits and the number of credits recommended by ANECA | Result | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Total MS’ mean of credits (3.64; SD = 2.24) vs ANECA’s recommended credits (7.0) |
d = 2.096>>0.8 |
Relevant |
| Mean of credits at private MS (6.51; SD = 2.98) vs ANECA’s recommended credits (7.0) |
d = 0.395 < 0.5 |
Small |
| Mean of credits at public MS (2.88; SD = 1.22) vs ANECA’s recommended credits (7.0) | d = 5.015>>0.8 | Relevant |
| Difference between the mean with SD of hours and the number of hours recommended by UNESCO | Result | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Total MS’ mean of hours (36.75; SD = 23.19) vs UNESCO’s recommended hours (30.0) |
d = 0.359 < 0.5 |
Small |
| Mean of hours at private MS (67.89; SD = 28.45) vs UNESCO’s recommended hours (30.0) |
d = 2.415>>0.8 |
Relevant |
| Mean of hours at public MS (28.50; SD = 12.39) vs UNESCO’s recommended hours (30.0) | d = 0.179 < 0.2 | Small |
*ANECA – National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain; BDE – teaching on bioethics, deontology, and ethics; MS – medical school; UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; SD – standard deviation.
†Cohen’s coefficient (d) interpretation: d<0.2 = small difference (small size effect); d>0.5 = moderate difference (medium size effect); d>0.8 = relevant difference (high size effect).