Abstract
Introduction: Studying anatomy using cadaveric material and/or animal tissues provides unique but potentially overwhelming learning opportunities. Recent pilot data indicate that some undergraduate science students feel technically underprepared and/or wanting more information regarding support before undertaking these activities. In order to improve the student experience, we introduced a new prosection handling and dissection skills laboratory, alongside optional online support resources. We evaluated how prepared the 2019 cohort of anatomy science students felt upon entering their core second year paper (ANAT 241, which involves extensive prosection use and a rat thorax dissection), and whether the implementation of these new resources was beneficial.
Materials and Methods: All ANAT 241 students (n 317) were invited to complete three surveys; one before, and after the skills lab, and one following the completion of the paper. Responses from open-ended questions were analysed by a general inductive approach, identifying common emergent themes.
Results: While anatomy science students felt reasonably prepared for prosections and dissecting based on prior experience in earlier courses, after completing the skills laboratory, decreases in stress levels and a positive shift in preparedness was observed, particularly with using dissection equipment. Only a small proportion (10.6%) of students accessed the online support resources - however, they were perceived as beneficial for those who engaged.
Conclusion: The inclusion of a skills laboratory and online support resources has helped better prepare students for practical work that may have otherwise been a learning barrier. Promotion of online support resources is needed to improve comfort and support levels further.