What is the Best Approach to Learning Anatomy during a Pandemic? Students’ Perspective

Abstract

Various approaches to anatomical education were explored at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) during the Covid19 pandemic. Students in the class 2023 were able to evaluate three approaches: i) in-person dissection (prior to the pandemic) using Virtual Human Dissector as a reference guide, ii) virtual dissection using Visible Body Courseware supplemented with Acland's Video Atlas, and iii) faculty-guided review of prosections combined with opportunities for virtual dissection. Zhang's “in house” dissection videos were also provided to the class of 2023 throughout their training. A survey was conducted to sample students’ perspectives regarding these learning modalities, and 65/260 students responded. Sixty (60%) percent considered the in-person dissection most ideal, whereas 40% thought that approaches using Visible Body, with or without prosections (20% each) as the most effective approach. Of the supplemental learning resources, 47% selected Acland's Video Atlas, 37% Zhang's in-house dissection videos, and 12% the Visible Body as most helpful. Moore's Clinical Oriented Anatomy is the required textbook in our course. Surprisingly, 57% of students responding to the survey did not read it, 25% only rarely read it, and 16% read it only when they looked for answers to specific questions. Only 2% of the class read most of the chapters in this textbook. When asked for a recommendation for future anatomy education, 67% of students advised hands-on dissection combined with prosection and 16% advised hands-on dissection only. Interestingly, 18% of the students responding advised approaches that omit in-person hands-on dissection. In summary, the traditional in-person cadaveric dissection is still considered the most effective learning approach by the majority of students at SKMC, but students who do not prefer in-person hands-on dissection should be taken into consideration. In the future, a more comprehensive and hybrid curricular approach will be considered to facilitate the learning of students with different learning styles.