Dissection Experience and Performance on a Human Gross Anatomy Written Examination: Lessons Learned During the Covid‐19 Pandemic

To the Editor, Anatomical Sciences Education: The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted in-person higher education throughout world and forced most universities to offer their courses remotely (Al Lily et al., 2020; Nasri Oyedotun, Ramos-Morcillo 2020). These changes had profound impacts on gross anatomy body donation programs (Brassett Evans At medical schools in Australia New Zealand, sudden appearance of ended face-to-face instruction midstream, resulting a loss hands-on experiences rapid adoption alternative “stay at home” modes with little or no time prepare for transition (Pather One student studying United Kingdom expressed fear that his development as an anatomist would be compromised not only by cadaver laboratory experiences, but also direct contact instructors peers (Franchi, Medical students University California Davis took abbreviated dissection-based human course during pandemic. Mid-course public health policies testing positive led unique challenges needed addressed. first day class was August 3rd, 2020. A number safety protocols were developed consultation experts Department Internal Medicine, Office Education, university administrators who approve all instruction. total 128 assigned 22 dissection tables. Each required complete on-line survey Covid-19-related symptoms. Upon arrival, results surveys checked staff. Per county orders, wore face coverings while waiting enter laboratory, maintained six-foot distance from one another. Students entered five six avoid crowding personal protective equipment (PPE) station, where they donned surgical masks, shields, disposable aprons, nitrile gloves. completion each session, exited opposite side building after removing PPE, donning covering, washing hands. capped 50% room’s maximum occupancy, so divided into team Tuesday dissectors Thursday (mostly three per table, session lasting hours). On Fridays, full teams met every other table 90 minutes presented another what learned previous sessions. This followed short period. “small team” plan successfully two weeks, which enough allow dissect study back upper limb. end second week, informed new related indoor attendance any venue 49. made it necessary divide groups (42-43 each), dissecting Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays hours day. occasional students, instructor fourth-year assisted single dissector. entire could meet week before practical midterm examinations when one-third present review together spread out open arrangement worked next weeks. During timed examinations: covered back, limb, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, perineum. ninth instruction, we tested Covid-19, this been close yet-to-be-determined classmates off campus. As consequence, suspended. final four weeks included anterior triangle neck, orbit, pharynx, oral cavity, nasal cavities, larynx, lower held entirely virtually. case suspension recorded lectures continued delivered asynchronously. times previously reserved basic objectives ask questions. November 2020, 60-question, comprehensive multiple-choice examination. For decades, value learning has studied debated (Granger, 2004; Elizondo-Omaña 2005; Korf 2008; Anyanwu Ugochukwu, 2010; Estai Bunt, 2016; Pizzimenti Ghosh, 2017; Flack Nicholson, 2018; McMenamin 2018). Our experience year serendipitously allowed us test preparing written examination comparing performance questions content material on-line. In eight question thorax (the examination), seven perineum examination). 2020 cohort performed well these questions, average grade 89.9 ± 11.4%. Their comparable (P > 0.05, one-tailed t-test, unpaired equal variance) 2019, participated dissection. there 10 7 perineum, 87.7 12.1%. contrast, head, limb without benefit did significantly worse (84.5 11.9%, 16 questions) than dissected regions (93.1 8.5%, 15 < 0.05). embryology radiology similarly 0.05) (83.9 16.0% 8 94.6 3.5% 9 opportunity attend live 2019 (84.7 14.5% 94.0 8.3% questions). recovered passed course, tracing confirmed virus transmitted overall 86.9 8.3%. similar 87.9 8.1% 2019. However, reinforced experience. 2021, is planning instituting curriculum increasing size beyond capacity current laboratory. curriculum, being designed faculty-led team, will integrate shorter (decreased 13 weeks) histology physical skills. Caps room require larger sections, unlike our original reinforce indicate can perform using approach some members team.