Academic dishonesty among Nigeria pharmacy students: A comparison with United Kingdom

Professionalism and integrity are integral attributes of the pharmacy profession. This study was set out to determine the perceptions towards and actual indulgence in academic dishonesty among Nigerian Pharmacy students and to compare these with results obtained in the United Kingdom. Final year and third year pharmacy students of University of Nigeria (UNN) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), all in Nigeria, were asked to complete a survey instrument consisting of 16 activities considered to be cheating. Data on perceptions and previous indulgence in such activities were collected and analysed with appropriate statistical tools. Three hundred and sixty six students participated (overall participation rate, 72.8%; UNN: n=216, 59.0%; OOU: n=150, 41%) in the study while male and female students were distributed almost equally (male: 48.6% and female: 51.4%).  More students cheated in their coursework than in examination (54.2 vs. 45.8%, p<0.05), while significantly more final year students in OOU indulged in cheating (74.6 vs. 62.1%, p<0.05). Overall, significantly more students in UNN cheated than those in OOU (81.5 vs. 68%, p=0.002). In comparison with students of University of Portsmouth, proportionally more Nigerian students participated in all eleven selected scenarios than UK students. Nigerian pharmacy students generally have a poor perception towards academic dishonesty and acts of such dishonesty are prevalent among these students.   Key words: Academic dishonesty, Nigeria, pharmacy practice, professionalism.