A survey study of military medical students to autopsy in modern medical education

Abstract

Military medical students will serve emergency in wars or natural disasters, so the autopsy teaching is an important value for their future career. To observe the military medical students’ attitudes to autopsy in the modern medical education, a survey study was undertaken to observe the military medical students’ attitudes to autopsy in a teaching hospital affiliated to military medical university. Qualitative data were obtained by analyzing results of interviews of 40 military medical students. Although, unpleasant and frightening sensation influenced students' feelings in the autopsies, it did not affect their appreciation of the learning value of the autopsy experience for their future career. Students identified the better understanding of anatomy and pathology and good skills for wound rescue, as a main learning benefit from the autopsy. The results support the fact that military medical students think autopsy as an essential event in the context of military medical learning, which greatly benefits their medical learning and future profession. Key words: Autopsy, military medical student, modern medical education.