Students' evaluation on a two-stage anatomy curriculum.
This study evaluated students' perspectives of the two-stage anatomy course, which is designed to retain the time-honored tradition of cadaver dissection and to include innovative components into anatomy education. A total of 94 sixth-year medical students completed a questionnaire survey at the end of the second stage anatomy course. The results showed that more than half of the students were satisfied with the two-stage anatomy course. Students found that cadaver dissection was most helpful in learning anatomy. The two-stage anatomy course can enhance understanding and memory of anatomical knowledge. However, students disagreed on whether or not the two-stage course can reduce the burden of learning or that the parallel study of anatomy and the 'Life and Death' course could change their attitude toward death more effectively. National Licensing Examination revealed no obvious change after the implementation of the new anatomy course. Traditional and innovative components in anatomy curriculum could coexist in harmony. We provided an alternative for those who wanted to retain cadaver dissection in a reformed curriculum. Further study is needed to evaluate the adequacy of anatomy knowledge and student performance in the long run.
Leung
Kai-Kuen
KK
Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taiwan. kkleung@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Lue
Bee-Horng
BH
Lu
Kuo-Shyan
KS
Huang
Tien-Shang
TS
D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D001290:Attitude; D002102:Cadaver; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004210:Dissection; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan