الملخص
Human Anatomy is a foundation course in Medicine and Dentistry with one of its components being gross, of which Cadaveric Dissection (CD) is an important part. Recently there has been a wide spread debate as to the relevance or otherwise of CD in the learning of anatomy by the students. A feedback from the beneficiaries i.e. medical and dental students in terms of perception and evaluation is necessary for informed decision to be made on curriculum review. The objective of this study was to asses medical and dental students’ attitude and perception of CD. In achieving this, a structured questionnaire, containing 29 stems was administered to 152 medical and dental students, who were about completing the preclinical phase of the medical and dental
programmes respectively. The response rate was 77.6% and the responses were analyzed using absolute numbers, percentages and frequencies. Between 76.3-96.4 % were involved in actual dissection of at least one of the regions of the body. About 90.1% had twice to thrice weekly attendance at the dissections. About 96.4% were of the opinion that CD is essential to learning anatomy; while 55.6% found it interesting and 80.1% believed that it has significant contribution to future professional carrier. Results from this study show that the students appreciate the relevance of CD to learning anatomy and in view of limitations of viable alternatives, CD still has a prominent place in the teaching of gross anatomy.
Keywords: cadaveric dissection, attitude, perception, evaluation
Résumé
Anatomie humaine est une matière fondamentale en médicine et médecine dentaire avec l’une des composantes étant la macro anatomie, ou la dissection des cadavres est une importante partie. Récemment il y a eu plusieurs débats sur l’importance ou pas des dissections dans l’apprentissage de l’anatomie par les étudiants. Le feedback des bénéficiaires e.x. étudiants en médecine et soins dentaires en termes de la perception et évaluation est nécessaire pour une décision informée sur la revue du curriculum. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’attitude et la perception des étudiants en médecine et dentistes sur la dissection des cadavres. Un questionnaire structuré, contenant 29 questions était administré a 152 étudiants, qui étaient entrain de compléter la phase préclinique des programmes en médicine et soins dentaires respectivement. Le taux de réponse était de 77.6% et les réponses étaient analysées utilisant les nombres absolus, pourcentages et fréquences. Entre 76.3- 96.4 % étaient impliqués dans la dissection réelle au moins d’une région du corps humain. De façon hebdomadaire, environ 90.1% participaient a deux ou trois dissections. Environ 96.4% avaient pour opinion que la dissection des cadavres est essentielle pour l’apprentissage de l’anatomie ; Bien que 55.6% trouvaient cela intéressante, 80.1% croyaient que cela a une contribution significative sur la carrière future. Les résultats de cette étude démontrait les étudiants apprécient l’importance des dissections des cadavres dans leurs apprentissage de l’anatomie et en vue des limitations des alternatives. L’usage des cadavres a encore une place proéminente dans l’enseignement de la macroanatomie.
Correspondence: Dr. R.S. Ajani, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: rsaajani@yahoo.co.uk
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