RESEARCH ARTICLE Understanding of plagiarism amid North-African post- graduate dental students: A cross sectional pilot study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations] Rim Kallala 1-3 , Mehdi Khemiss 4,5 , Ines Azzouzi 6 , Yosra Gassara 2,3 , Soumaya Touzi 1,3 , Belhassen Harzallah 2,3 , Helmi Ben Saad 7 1 Department of Dental Anatomy. Dental clinic of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia 2 Department of Fixed Prosthesis, Dental clinic of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia 3 Research Laboratory LR16ES15: Occlusondontics and Ceramic Prostheses, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia 4 Department of Dental Medicine, Fattouma BOURGUIBA University Hospital of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia 5 Research Laboratory LR12SP10: Functional and Aesthetic Rehabilitation of Maxillary, Farhat HACHED University Hospital of Sousse, Université de Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia 6 Department of Dental Medicine, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia 7 Université de Sousse, Hôpital Farhat HACHED, Laboratoire de recherche LR12SP09 «Insuffisance cardiaque», Université de Sousse, Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia First published: 29 Apr 2024, 13:415 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.148694.1 Latest published: 29 Apr 2024, 13:415 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.148694.1 v1 Abstract Background Plagiarism remains poorly understood among post-graduate dental students (PGDSs) in North Africa. Data on the level of understanding of plagiarism (UP) in this population is lacking. This study assessed UP of Tunisian PGDSs'. Methods A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Monastir, involving 147 PGDSs registered in 2022. Students were recruited via email invitations and convenience sampling at a medical congress. A French survey with 11 questions on UP, offering three-choice answers (yes/no/maybe) was administered. Each correct answer received one point, and a total UP score below six indicated a low-level of UP. Results Open Peer Review Approval Status 1 version 1 29 Apr 2024 view Vanja Pupovac , University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia Ana Depope, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia 1. Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article. Page 1 of 21 F1000Research 2024, 13:415 Last updated: 25 JUL 2024