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Evaluation of Role of Dissection in Medical Education: A Case Study of Imo State University Nigeria
Author(s) -
IHENTUGE CHURCHILL,
Ugochukwu Chioma
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.548.4
Subject(s) - dissection (medical) , curriculum , likert scale , cadaver , medicine , cadaveric spasm , medical education , gross anatomy , human anatomy , psychology , anatomy , pedagogy , developmental psychology
The medical anatomy course has become a complex and complicated educational experience, in which dissection of the human body instructs not only in structure and function, but also in psychosocial areas critical to the development of the whole physician. Dissection is being sidelined in medical education. Computers and other alternative teaching tools are replacing cadavers in the modern anatomy curriculum. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the role of cadaveric dissection with other teaching tools in anatomic education. METHOD: This study took place at the college of medicine, Imo state university Nigeria. Two hundred and sixty eight (268) preclinical medical students participated in this study. A matrix‐grid questionnaire was used and participants were asked to score five methods of anatomy teaching used in the college (lectures, dissection, prosection, models and PC software/TV packages) using a 5‐point Likert type scale on the ability to achieve learning objectives. The data was analysed using the Krusekal‐Wallis and Mann‐Whitney methods to evaluate differences in scores between teaching methods. RESULTS: Results showed that the most suitable tool for learning anatomy is cadaveric dissection having scored highest in cumulative objectives while PC software/TV package was the least method. Prosection, lectures and models appear in between. CONCLUSION Traditional cadaveric dissection remains the best method of teaching anatomy. The other methods of learning play complementary roles. Efforts should be made to device means of regular supply of cadavers to medical institutions rather than withdrawing cadaveric dissection from medical curriculum.