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Medical gross anatomy laboratory tours have a positive impact on participant interest in the health care professions
Author(s) -
Eckel Christine M.,
Pratt Rebecca L,
Hermey Donna,
Hanna Jandy B
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.828.6
Subject(s) - health care , health professions , etiquette , presentation (obstetrics) , gross anatomy , medical education , allied health professions , psychology , medicine , family medicine , surgery , anatomy , political science , law
To encourage HS and allied health students in West Virginia who have an interest in the health care professions, WVSOM has a laboratory tour program for students enrolled in human anatomy courses at the HS or undergraduate level. Each tour begins with a presentation covering proper laboratory etiquette, the role of the Human Gift Registry, and scientific aspects of cadaver embalming and plastination. Participants are then given a tour of the lab and demonstrations of human anatomy emphasizing clinical applications using cadaveric specimens, radiographs, and/or plastinated specimens. To assess the value of the tours, we ask all participants to complete pre and post tour questionnaires. In the spring of 2009, 255 tour participants returned questionnaires; a response rate of 90.4%. 82% of participants indicated a strong or very strong interest in pursuing a career within the field of health care, and 27% said attending the tour changed their opinion about the health care professions. Of those whose interest changed, 78% indicated they were more interested in a health related career as a result of the tour. We conclude that our anatomy tour program positively influences the interest of participants in the health care professions. Grant Funding Source : NA