Abstract:

Introduction:
The application of ethical principles in relation to the participants of the teaching process plays a significant role. The level of ethics in relations between teachers, students, but also in the communication teacher-student and student-teacher is important. These factors significantly affect the teaching process, but also its results. They also have an impact on the student´s motivation to study, especially with regard to the study of less popular science subjects at study programs not focused on the sciences, as medicine study.

Methodology:
The anonymous questionnaires were prepared and distributed at the end of the first semester of university study at the Comenius University Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava in the acad. years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 (128 and 105 respondents, respectively). The aim was to map the current state in the application of ethical principles and pedagogical tact in the 1st year of medical study. Respondents evaluated the level of ethical principles and pedagogical tactful or tactless behaviour in the teaching process and the quality of mutual communication of teachers and students. Respondents rated their attitudes on the scale from 0 (negative) to 10 (positive).

Results:
Respondents rated next statements:
1. Express your opinion on the level of application of ethical principles in the relationship teacher-student/student-teacher at the university (acad. year 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, respectively):
Average score of evaluation:
acad. year 2016/2017 – 5.59 (neutral)/7.73 (slightly positive),
acad. year 2017/2018 – 7.96 (slightly positive)/7.78 (slightly positive).

2. Evaluate the level of pedagogical tactful and tactless behaviour of teacher at the university (practical teaching/lectures):
Average score of evaluation:
acad. year 2016/2017 – 7.83 (slightly positive)/7.15 (slightly positive),
acad. year 2017/2018 – 8.13 (slightly positive)/7.0 (slightly positive).

3. Evaluate the quality of teacher-student communication at the university:
Average score of evaluation:
acad. year 2016/2017 – 7.33 (slightly positive),
acad. year 2017/2018 – 7.89 (slightly positive).

Conclusions:
Obtained results of our survey showed slightly positive responses concerning both application of pedagogical tactful behaviour of teachers in the teaching process (practical training/ lectures). Teacher-student communication was also evaluated as slightly positive in both acad. years.
Level of application of ethical principles in the relationship teacher-student and student-teacher were evaluated in both acad. years as neutral or slightly positive.
We found out a positive tendency in application of ethical principles in the university study, satisfying pedagogical tact and higher quality of teacher-student communication which could positively affect the study outcomes.
In the same time we believe that the ethics at the university will also influence the ethical behavior of graduates to patients in the future.

Acknowledgement:
Contribution was supported by GP KEGA MESRS of the SR 003UK–4/2016 and 026UK-4/2017.

References:
[1] BALAZSIOVA, Z.: Where are the roots of students cheating at universities. Scientific Book of Abstracts from the International Scientific Conference. Žilina: EDIS, 2017, p. 53-54.
[2] KRALOVA, E., SVETLIKOVA-MARTAUZOVA, L.: Ethical aspects of university education. ICERI 2017 Proceedings. Valencia: IATED Academy, 2017, p. 7325-7328.

Keywords:

Ethical principles, university education.