title: Relevance of anatomy to medical education and clinical practice: perspectives of medical students, clinicians, and educators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Against a backdrop of ever-changing diagnostic and treatment modalities, stakeholder perceptions (medical students, clinicians, anatomy educators) are crucial for the design of an anatomy curriculum which fulfils the criteria required for safe medical practice. This study compared perceptions of students, practising clinicians, and anatomy educators with respect to the relevance of anatomy education to medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative survey was administered to undergraduate entry (n = 352) and graduate entry students (n = 219) at two Irish medical schools, recently graduated Irish clinicians (n = 146), and anatomy educators based in Irish and British medical schools (n = 30). Areas addressed included the association of anatomy with medical education and clinical practice, mode of instruction, and curriculum duration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Graduate-entry students were less likely to associate anatomy with the development of professionalism, teamwork skills, or improved awareness of ethics in medicine. Clinicians highlighted the challenge of tailoring anatomy education to increase student readiness to function effectively in a clinical role. Anatomy educators indicated dissatisfaction with the time available for anatomy within medical curricula, and were equivocal about whether curriculum content should be responsive to societal feedback.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The group differences identified in the current study highlight areas and requirements which medical education curriculum developers should be sensitive to when designing anatomy courses.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Amgad
authors: A
authors: Sbayeh
authors: Medical Education Unit, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Mohammad A
authors: MA
authors: Qaedi Choo
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Kathleen A
authors: KA
authors: Quane
authors: Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Finucane
authors: Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Deirdre
authors: D
authors: McGrath
authors: Medical Education Unit, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Siun
authors: S
authors: O'Flynn
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Siobhain M
authors: SM
authors: O'Mahony
authors: Medical Education Unit, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. c.otuathaigh@ucc.ie.
authors: Colm M P
authors: CMP
authors: O'Tuathaigh
keywords: Anatomy; Curriculum development; Medical education; Mode of entry to medical school