Factors Affecting Learning of Anatomy: Students' Viewpoints

Introduction: Anatomy is of outmost importance for medical students because of its application in medical practice. Students are a main source of information for quality and effectiveness of education and their views can be used to improve teaching and learning. This study was performed to determine factors affecting anatomy learning from the opinion of medical students of Semnan University of Medical Sciences (SEM-UMS). Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 113 medical students of SEM-UMS at the basic science (fourth semester or higher), clerkship and internship levels. A valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire, containing demographic data and factors influencing anatomy learning was completed by students. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: According to the students, use of anatomical manikins(4.59±0.55), teacher’s fluency (4.58±0.56), teaching clinical applications of anatomy (4.53±0.68), reviewing theoretical topics in practical classes (4.50±0.6) and utilizing educational images (4.42±0.67), respectively, had the greatest effect on learning anatomy. There were significant differences between male and female views regarding the effect of teaching clinical applications (t=2.56, p=.01). Also students of different educational levels had different views on the role of pre-class self-study in anatomy learning (t=6.67, P=0.036). Conclusion: Students believed that the use of new teaching methods and applying several educational devices, teaching of theory together with practical anatomy courses, developing an understanding about the importance of anatomy in medicine, along with the lecturers’ fluency in speech are most effective on learning anatomy. Therefore it is suggested that new teaching methods and simultaneous theoretical and practical anatomy teaching be included in educational programs.