Incorporating radiology into medical gross anatomy: does the use of cadaver CT scans improve students' academic performance in anatomy? Anat Sci Educ 2010;3(2):56-63
Date
03/10/2010Pubmed ID
20213692DOI
10.1002/ase.141Scopus ID
2-s2.0-77950927153 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 103 CitationsAbstract
Radiological images show anatomical structures in multiple planes and may be effective for teaching anatomical spatial relationships, something that students often find difficult to master. This study tests the hypotheses that (1) the use of cadaveric computed tomography (CT) scans in the anatomy laboratory is positively associated with performance in the gross anatomy course and (2) dissection of the CT-scanned cadaver is positively associated with performance on this course. One hundred and seventy-nine first-year medical students enrolled in gross anatomy at Boston University School of Medicine were provided with CT scans of four cadavers, and students were given the opportunity to choose whether or not to use these images. The hypotheses were tested using logistic regression analysis adjusting for student demographic characteristics. Students who used the CT scans were more likely to score greater than 90% as an average practical examination score (odds ratio OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.4, 9.2), final course grade (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.01, 6.8), and on spatial anatomy examination questions (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.03, 5.6) than were students who did not use the CT scans. There were no differences in performance between students who dissected the scanned cadavers and those who dissected a different cadaver. These results demonstrate that the use of CT scans in medical gross anatomy is predictive of performance in the course and on questions requiring knowledge of anatomical spatial relationships, but it is not necessary to scan the actual cadaver dissected by each student.
Author List
Lufler RS, Zumwalt AC, Romney CA, Hoagland TMMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnatomyCadaver
Comprehension
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Curriculum
Dissection
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Educational Measurement
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Odds Ratio
Students, Medical
Teaching
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Whole Body Imaging
