International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 03, Issue: 02, January 2015, Pages 117-121
Original article:
Experience in anatomy Lab- An analysis in Preclinical students
1Dr.
Deepa Somanath , 2Dr. Shivali Srivastava, 3Dr. S. S. Rajasekar
1Assistant
2Post
Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry, India
graduate, Department of Anatomy, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry, India
3Professor
and Head, Department of Anatomy, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry, India
Corresponding author: Dr. Deepa Somanath
Abstract:
Context: Human dissection has been in practice for the last five hundred years and continues to remain the
cornerstone of anatomy. However, due to various reasons, dissection is being reduced and in some places even
removed from the curricula. The present study aims to assess the attitude of first year pre- clinical students towards
cadaver dissection, to identify the factors preventing them from learning anatomy through dissection and to obtain
suggestions for improvement of learning anatomy in the dissection hall.
Methods: A cross- sectional quantitative investigatory study with a sample size of 141 consenting pre clinical
students was done in the Department of Anatomy. A pre- tested, self- administered questionnaire was used.
Suggestions were also obtained from the students for improving the learning in dissection hall. Data was entered and
analyzed using tables.
Results: 69 female students and 72 male students participated in the study. The mean age was 18 years. 96% males
and 97% females agreed that dissection enhances the skill of thinking in a logical manner. 94% males and 90%
females thought that actual hands- on training on cadaver dissection gives better results than demonstration of
prosected specimens in this study. 93% males and 96% females admitted that cadaver dissection is ethically
acceptable. 86% males and 97% females agreed that cadaver dissection cannot be replaced by plastic models and
computer assisted training programmes. 100% females and 96% males consider cadaver dissection to be important
and indispensable to anatomy learning.
Conclusion: In our country as well as many others it has been noted via questionnaire studies that human dissection
is an irreplaceable learning tool for anatomy. However modern techniques are coming up albeit expensive, further
studies can be done to compare learning anatomy by dissection and learning by such methods.
Keywords: Attitude, Students, Dissection, Medical Education