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Incorporating radiology into medical gross anatomy: A study of its efficacy in learning spatial relationships
Author(s) -
Lufler Rebecca Sage,
Zumwalt Ann,
Hoagland Todd M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.182.1
Subject(s) - gross anatomy , medicine , test (biology) , cadaver , psychology , radiology , anatomy , paleontology , biology
Radiological imaging is the depiction of anatomical structures and the spatial relationships among them. Visual‐spatial ability (VSA), the ability to mentally manipulate objects in 3D, is an important skill for medical students to apply their anatomical knowledge in the clinical setting. To date, no studies have investigated the effects of cadaver specific CT scans in the gross anatomy lab on students' learning and VSA. We hypothesize that there will be a positive relationship between VSA and practical exam scores, and that use of CT scans will be associated with practical exam scores and increases in students' VSA. 183 first year medical students were provided with cadaver CT scans, and students self selected into groups based on their time spent viewing the scans in lab. VSA was assessed by the Mental Rotations Test, given during orientation and at the end of the course. During the Back and Extremities section, 35% of the students used the CT scans in lab. Preliminary data suggest students who used the CT scans scored significantly higher on the practical exam (p=0.0086). Average VSA of those who used the CT scans was slightly lower than those that did not, but there was a positive correlation between VSA and practical exam scores (p=0.019, r=0.31). This research is supported by the LWW/AAA Education Research Scholarship. Grant Funding Source LWW/AAA Education Research Scholarship