Using the values exchange to teach research ethics

We wanted to create a learning environment that would actively engage medical students in learning research ethics. Because digital technology is normal to the younger generation, we speculated that the Values Exchange (VX) might offer a solution. The VX has a Facebook-like interface and uses commonplace scenarios. Each has a proposal to which students can agree or disagree. They are encouraged to give detailed reasons. Once they submit, they can see other students' ideas and debate with them. We designed a VX-based one-credit blended research ethics (RE) module for: Week 1: a one-day face-to-face workshop incorporating two lectures: (i) Introduction and Ethical Decision Making in RE and (ii) Introduction to the VX system. Weeks 2 and 3: students work on a public health ethics case ‘Consent or the public interest?’ using the VX (the case concerned a public health intervention without individual consent). Week 4: wrap-up in-person workshop. Sixty-one fourth-year students completed a cross-sectional survey which asked for (i) demographics, (ii) overall opinion on the VX RE module, (iii) opinion on the VX system for teaching RE and (iv) comparison of VX RE module to traditional classroom-based courses.