Effect of Cadaver Dissection on Written and Practical Gross Anatomy Test Scores

Abstract

Over the past five years, 325+ Italian medical students participated in D'Youville College's (DYC's) Giovanni Mazzotti Anatomy Conference (GMAC), named in honor of the late president of the Medical School of Bologna and the Italian Anatomy Society. Cadaver dissection is not common in Italy where models, drawings and computer‐generated images are utilized. Some universities select participants for anatomy competency.Before they dissect, attendees complete 50 question practical and 50 question written examinations (choice of English or Italian). After ~100 hours of available laboratory time, equivalent examinations are completed and compared. To quantify anecdotal proclamations of greater knowledge of anatomy, in this preliminary study, we examined 107 students from different populations (Group A:47, Group B:60). On average, a significant improvement was observed in test scores increasing by 5% in group A and 10% in Group B with p 蠄 0.001) in basic written and practical knowledge of anatomy. Students with the weakest practical pre‐test scores made the largest advances by conference end with as high as a 42% increase. Cadaver dissection and experience was found to be beneficial and worthwhile in increasing the practical as well as theoretical knowledge of these medical students.We expect this collaboration to continue and will include exam modifications and additional participant information to provide a more in depth analysis. We thank our friends and collaborators, Professors Zecchi, Manzoli, Nori, Papa and Sette of the Medical Universities of Florence, Bologna, Salerno, Naples, and of Rome Tor Vergata. Supported by the GMAC and approved through the IRB of DYC.