Results: Of the 92 medical students, 54 completed the questionnaire
in the fall of the first year and again at the end of their
third year. The average age of the students at the end of the
third year was 21 years, and 79% of the students included in
the study were women. Over the 3-year period, the stage of
moral development did not change substantially (i.e., by more
than half a stage) for 39 (72%) of the students, shifted to a lower
stage for 7 (13%) and shifted to a higher stage for 8 (15%). The
overall mean change in stage was not significant (from mean
3.46 in year 1 to 3.48 in year 3, p = 0.86); however, the overall
mean change in weighted average scores showed a significant
decline in moral development (p = 0.028).