REMEMBER TUSKEGEE - PUBLIC-HEALTH STUDENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETHICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY

The ethical problems that surrounded the Tuskegee Syphilis Study promp ted widespread public criticism when they first surfaced in 1972; the Tuskegee Study remains an important case in bioethics. We recently exa mined public health student knowledge of the ethical significance of t he Tuskegee Study as part of an ethics curriculum needs assessment at Tulane University. A brief questionnaire was administered to 236 gradu ate students currently enrolled in seven epidemiology courses. Basic d emographic information was obtained along with information about degre e program. A series of questions was then asked to assess student know ledge of bioethics including the ethical significance of the Tuskegee Study. Only 19% (46 of 236) of the students demonstrated knowledge of the ethical significance of the Tuskegee Study. Knowledge of the Tuske gee Study's ethical significance was higher among students who were fr om the United States and those who were enrolled in the epidemiology p rogram (P < .05). The ethical problems that surrounded the Tuskegee St udy have rarely been encountered in public health. However, this impor tant case stands as an exemplar of the potential for ethical abuses in human subjects research. Such cases ought to be highlighted in public health curricula.