Effects of Integrating Applied Material in Traditional Anatomy Education on Medical Students’ Knowledge

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 General Practitioner, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: The necessity of modifying the content of basic sciences curriculum has been emphasized in recent decades. The Department of Anatomy in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Isfahan, Iran) has been responsible for a part of this modification. Therefore, this study was planned and implemented to integrate physical examination methods and surface and radiological anatomy in the applied anatomy course.Methods: This interventional study was performed in the Department of Anatomy of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Students of medicine were allocated to groups one to four to receive conventional training, applied training alone, theoretical training alone, and theoretical plus applied training, respectively. At the end of the intervention, the students’ clinical knowledge was evaluated and compared.Findings: The groups were not significantly different in terms of sex distribution. The mean score of knowledge about physical examination was significantly higher in the first two groups. The highest score in surface anatomy belonged to the first group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in radiological anatomy scores between the four groups.Conclusion: Its seems that integrating clinical material in the anatomy course could improve the students’ knowledge especially about physical examination and surface anatomy. More complete and enhanced versions of this program will definitely promote better learning of anatomy among students of medicine.

Keywords

References

  1. Waterston SW, Stewart IJ. Survey of clinicians' attitudes to the anatomical teaching and knowledge of medical students. Clin Anat 2005; 18(5): 380-4.
  2. Fasel JH, Bader C, Gailloud P. Anatomy teaching for medical undergraduates: general practice as a guideline? The brain. Clin Anat 1999; 12(2): 115-9.
  3. Albanese MA, Mitchell S. Problem-based learning: a review of literature on its outcomes and implementation issues. Acad Med 1993; 68(1): 52-81.
  4. American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA), Educational Affairs Committee. A clinical anatomy curriculum for the medical student of the 21st century: gross anatomy. Clin Anat 1996; 9(2): 71-99.
  5. Bates B, Hoekelman RA. A Guide to physical examination. Philadelphia, PA; Lippincott: 1983. p. 16.
  6. Cahill DR. Lachman's case studies in anatomy. 4th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1996. p. 5.
  7. Moore KL. Clinically oriented anatomy. 2nd ed. London, UK: Williams & Wilkins; 1985. p. 7-10.
  8. Yazdani SH, Hatami S. General practitioner in Iran. Tehran, Iran: Golbahar; 2004.
  9. Drake RL. Anatomy education in a changing medical curriculum. Anat Rec 1998; 253(1): 28-31.
  10. Sasha N, Duke Z, Duke E. How is gross anatomy taught in medical school? currcular integration and a functional consensus on minimum duration. Huntington, WV: Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University; 2009. [Manuscript In Preparation].
  11. Tosteson DC. New pathways in general medical education. N Engl J Med 1990; 322(4): 234-8.
  12. Metcalf NF, Prentice ED, Metcalf WK, Stinson WW. Peer group models in examination instruction as an integral part of medical gross anatomy. J Med Educ 1982; 57(8): 641-4.
  13. Cottam WW. Adequacy of medical school gross anatomy education as perceived by certain postgraduate residency programs and anatomy course directors. Clin Anat 1999; 12(1): 55-65.
  14. Peuker ET, Filler TJ, Berns T, Marschall B, Pera F, Senninger N. Clinical anatomy as an integrating element in teaching surgical subjects. Chirurg 1998; 69(12): 1324-8. [In German].
  15. Reidenberg JS, Laitman JT. The new face of gross anatomy. Anat Rec 2002; 269(2): 81-8.
  16. McCuskey RS, Carmichael SW, Kirch DG. The importance of anatomy in health professions education and the shortage of qualified educators. Acad Med 2005; 80(4): 349-51.
  17. Garcia-Barbero M. Medical education in the light of the World Health Organization Health for All strategy and the European Union. Med Educ 1995; 29(1): 3-12.
  18. Teichgraber UK, Meyer JM, Poulsen NC, von Rautenfeld DB. Ultrasound anatomy: a practical teaching system in human gross anatomy. Med Educ 1996; 30(4): 296-8.
  19. Boon JM, Meiring JH, Richards PA, Jacobs CJ. Evaluation of clinical relevance of problem-oriented teaching in undergraduate anatomy at the University of Pretoria. Surg Radiol Anat 2001; 23(1): 57-60.
  20. Boon JM, Meiring JH, Richards PA. Clinical anatomy as the basis for clinical examination: development and evaluation of an Introduction to Clinical Examination in a problem-oriented medical curriculum. Clin Anat 2002; 15(1): 45-50.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 31, Issue 225 - Serial Number 225
January and February 2013
Pages 104-111

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 05 September 2012
  • Revise Date: 26 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics