Perception and attitude toward intellectual property at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: Intellectual property (IP) is one of many key indicators for university assessment, which required the university employees to obtain. This study aims to describe the perception and attitude toward IP of lecturers and office staff at Pham Ngoc Thach (PNT) University of Medicine. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 205 individuals (accounted for approximately 25% of the university staff) working at PNT University of Medicine. This main exclusion criteria were part-time employees or those who did not participate in the survey. The study utilized the questionnaire from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); which was translated into Vietnamese. Participants completed the online questionnaire provided by KoboToolbox. Data was analyzed with Microsoft Excel 365 with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Effect sizes and confidence intervals were reported where applicable. Results: Among 205 participants, females were predominant (70.7%), and office staff accounted for 22.9%. Among the 205 participants, females were predominant (70.7%), and office staff accounted for 22.9%. A large proportion (71.2%) had no prior IP training. Awareness was highest for “trademark” (58.5%) and “copyright” (51.8%) but significantly lower for “geographical indications” (36.4%) and “industrial design” (17.6%). Perception of “patent” was significantly associated with age (χ² = 7.62, p = 0.022) and gender (χ² = 9.45, p = 0.004). Attitudes toward IP were positively associated with administrative roles (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.5, p = 0.002) and prior IP experience (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.9, p = 0.011) Conclusions: Significant gaps exist in IP awareness, particularly regarding geographical indications and industrial design. These findings highlight the need for targeted IP training programs to enhance understanding and support university employees in research and technology transfer. DOI: 10.59715/pntjmp.4.2.18