Investigating the Integration of Anatomical Variabilities into Medical Education as a Potential Strategy for Mitigating Surgical Errors

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical errors burden health-care systems globally, with anatomical variations being a significant contributor. This review examined the role of these variations and offers valuable insights for medical practitioners, educators, and policymakers to develop strategies to address and mitigate challenges posed by these variations. Materials and Methods: They keywords were generated from the title and online databases were searched with the help of a search string of keywords and Boolean operators. Results: A total of 13 articles were included in the present review. Thematic data analysis identified seven key themes highlighting the significance of anatomical variations in medical education. These include incorporating variations, determining optimal introduction and contact levels, identifying significant variations, teaching methods, visualization techniques, and challenges in integrating them. This systematic review has shown that earlier literature underscores the importance of anatomical variations in the context of medical education. However, there is evidence that students and trainees lack the necessary skills to effectively understand the concepts of anatomical variability and their application in the clinical setting. The final theme discusses potential solutions to enhance students’ understanding of human anatomy. Conclusion: Medical education aims to produce qualified physicians who provide competent and safe patient care. However, students and trainees often lack the skills to understand anatomical variations, leading to misdiagnoses and health-care malpractice. Active medical education professionals should ensure familiarization with anatomical variations to clear misconceptions about the human body, provide valuable knowledge about patient uniqueness, and spark interest in physicians.