title: CT Images Are Noninferior to Anatomic Specimens in Teaching Cardiac Anatomy-A Randomized Quantitative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The new generation's learning habits demand reforms in the methods by which we teach anatomy. Medical imaging techniques such as CT may offer a solution to help the understanding of complex anatomic structures. Our objective was to assess the noninferiority of using radiologic images in teaching anatomy as opposed to prosections or lecture slides.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three first-year medical students were assigned to three experimental groups taught using different approaches: lecture slides (LG), prosections (PG), or radiology images (RG). All three groups received a 2-hour presentation on cardiac anatomy. Three days after the lectures, the participants were subjected to a gross anatomic "pin test" followed by a written theoretical examination to evaluate their knowledge of cardiac anatomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant difference between the three groups regarding their gross anatomic examination scores (LG: 8.1 ± 4.1, PG: 10.6 ± 3.3, RG: 8.5 ± 3.4, P = .03; Tukey's honest significant difference: P(LG-PG)= .04, P(PG-RG)= .08, P(LG-RG)= .94), whereas no significant difference was apparent regarding their written theoretical examination scores (LG: 16.6 ± 4.2, PG: 18.6 ± 3.5, RG: 18.3 ± 3.0, P = .13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concerning gross anatomic knowledge, groups taught using prosections or radiologic images showed no significant difference. Demonstrative materials do not seem to significantly affect the theoretical knowledge of the students. The use of medical imaging techniques could represent a valuable contribution toward teaching anatomy.
authors.affiliation: MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Márton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolossváry
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Székely
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Merkely
authors.affiliation: MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: p.maurovich-horvat@cirg.hu.
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maurovich-Horvat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000193:education*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; cardiac anatomy; education