Title: Anatomical knowledge among Medical, Dental and Health Science Professionals

Authors: Htar Htar Aung, Htet Htet, Goh Pui San, Stephanie Choo Cui Fen

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i11.48

Abstract

The discipline of anatomy is an integral part of curriculum for Medical, Dental and Health Sciences programs. The evolution in undergraduate medical school curricula has significantly impacted the anatomy education. The application of anatomical knowledge plays a crucial role in daily clinical practice. This review was aimed to evaluate the anatomical knowledge among the medical, dental and health science professionals, and their perceptions on application of anatomical knowledge in clinical practice. A computerized literature search which includes PubMed, Web of knowledge and Ovid Medline, was performed. The studies in the English language and published in year 2000 onwards were included. Most of the studies were done in UK and Spain followed by Australia, US and Canada. The studies conducted among Medical and Chiropractic professions were 50% and 14% respectively. The rest of the studies were doneamong dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy, radiographer and nursing students. The students with preclinical exposure scored significantly higher than those without preclinical exposure. The medical students and clinical educators perceived that the application of anatomical knowledge is not strong enough for clinical practice. The virtual medical museum, case-based learning, peer-assisted learning, inter-professional forum and the recapitulation of anatomy in clinical years are suggested to improve in anatomy education. The curriculum design, early clinical exposure, revision of course content, adequacy of learning resources and assessment methods contribute to enhance the students’ learning and their ability to apply the anatomical knowledge in daily practice.

Keywords: Anatomical knowledge, application, Medical, Dental, Health Science Professionals

References

  1. Arráez-Aybar L, Sánchez-Montesinos I, Mirapeix R, Mompeo-Corredera B, Sañudo-Tejero J: Relevance of human anatomy in daily clinical practice. Annals Of Anatomy – Anatomischer Anzeiger 2010; 192(6): 341-348. doi: 10.1016/j.anat.2010.05.002.
  2. Gogalniceanu P, Madani H, Paraskeva PA, Darzi A: A minimally invasive approach to undergraduate anatomy teaching. Anat Sci Educ. 2008; 1(1):46-7. doi: 10.1002/ase.9.
  3. Craig S, Tait N, Boers D, McAndrew D: Review of anatomy education in Australian and New Zealand medical schools. ANZ J Surg. 2010;80(4):212-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2010.05241.x.
  4. Chapman PD, Meyer A, Young K, Wibowo D, Walker B: Emphasis on various subtopics in the anatomy curriculum for chiropractic training: An international survey of chiropractors and anatomists. J Chiro Educ 2015;29(1). dOI 10.7899/JCE-14-10.
  5. Meyer A, Armson, A, Losco C, Losco B, Walker B: Factors influencing student performance on the carpal bone test as a preliminary evaluation of anatomical knowledge retention. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2015;8(2): 133-139.
  1. Castillo-López J, Díaz-Mancha J, Heredia-Rizo A, Fernández-Seguín L, Polo-Padillo J, Domínguez-Maldonado G, Munuera P: The Tarsal Bone Test: A Basic Test of Health Sciences Students' Knowledge of Lower Limb Anatomy. Biomed Research International2014;1-6. doi: 10.1155/2014/939163.
  1. Sbayeh AA, Choo MAO, Quane KA, Finucane P, McGrath D et al: Relevance of anatomy to medical education and clinical practice:perspectives of medical students, clinicians, and educators. PerspectMed Educ 2016; 5:338–346. dOI 10.1007/s40037-016-0310-4.
  2. Spielmann, P. & Oliver, C: The carpal bones: A basic test of medical students' and junior doctors' knowledge of anatomy. The Surgeon.2005; 3(4): 257-259.
  3. Mateen FJ,D'Eon MF: Neuroanatomy: A single institution study of knowledge loss. Med Teach.2008; 30(5), 537-539.
  4. McKeow PP,Heylings DJA, Stevenson MMcKelvey KJNixon JRMcCluskey DR:The impact of curricular change on medical student’s knowledge of anatomy. MedEduc. 2003;37(11): 954-961.
  5. Feigin, D, Smirniotopoulos J, Neher T: Retention of Radiographic Anatomy of the Chest by 4th-Year Medical Students. J Academic Radiology. 2002;9(1): 82-88. doi: 10.1016/S1076-6332(03)80299-4.
  6. Magid D, Hudson DW, Feigin DS: Chest Radiographic Anatomy Retention. The impact of preclinical groundwork on clinical recall in two schools. J Academic Radiology 2009; 16(11): 1443-47. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2009.07.012.
  7. HtarHtar Aung, AnkurBarua, Anupa Sivakumar, Khin Ma Ma: Application of anatomical knowledge by final year dental students of integrated curriculum: A pilot study. JMSCR. 2016; 4(11): 13827-33.
  8. Strkalj G, Schroder T, Pather N, Solyali V: A Preliminary Assessment of the Fifth-YearChiropractic Students’ Knowledge of Anatomy. J Altern Complement Med. 2011; 17(1): 63-66.doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0157.
  9. Díaz-Mancha J, Castillo-López J, Munuera-Martinez P, Fernández-Seguín L, Polo-Padillo J, Heredia-Rizo A: A Comparison of Fourth-Year Health Sciences Students’ Knowledge of Gross Lower and Upper Limb Anatomy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal Of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics. 2016;39(6): 450-457. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.05.007.
  1. ValenzaMC, Castro-Martín E, Valenza G, Guirao-Piñeiro M, De-la-Llave-Rincón A, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C: Comparison of Third-Year Medical and Physical Therapy Students' Knowledge of Anatomy Using The Carpal Bone Test. Journal Of Manipulative And Physiological Therapeutics. 2012;35(2): 121-126. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.12.005.
  1. Hall A, Durward B: Retention of anatomy knowledge by student radiographers. Radiography 2009;15(3): 22-28. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2009.03.002.
  2. Vorstenbosch M, Kooloos J, Bolhuis S, Laan R: An investigation of anatomical competence in junior medical doctors. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2015;9(1): 8-17.
  3. Lazarus M, Chinchilli V, Leong S, Kauffman G: Perceptions of anatomy: Critical components in the clinical setting. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2012;5(4): 187-199.
  4. Orsbon CP, Kaiser RS, Ross CF: Physician opinions about an anatomy core curriculum: A case for medical imaging and vertical integration. Anatomical Sciences Education. 2014; 7(4): 251–261.
  5. Spampinato CM, Wittich CM, Beckman TJ, Cha SS, Pawlina W. ‘Safe Harbor’: Evaluation of a professionalism case discussion intervention for the gross anatomy course. Anat Sci Educ. 2014;7: 191–8.
  6. L. J. Rizzolo, W. B. Stewart: “Should we continue teaching anatomy by dissection when…?” Anatomical Record. Part B, New Anatomist. 2006; 289(6): 215–218.

Corresponding Author

Htar Htar Aung

Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International, Medical University, Malaysia

No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel: +60 3 2731 7509