European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

VIRTUAL DISSECTION – AS A NEW MEDICAL TEACHING TOOL

Pooja Bhadoria*

ABSTRACT

Anatomy teaching for centuries is based only on the dissection of cadavers. Though it has evolved from only dissection of cadavers, to integration with the study of prosected and plastinated specimens. Virtual dissection is a touch-screen table, which facilitates 3D visualization of structures along with their relations and familiarize students with radiological and CT scan images. In AIIMS Rishikesh, virtual dissection and surgical planning stations are used for clinical teaching, so to explore and evaluate impact of these tools in learning anatomy, the present study was planned. Effect of virtual dissection teaching techniques (VDTT) on first-year MBBS students (Batch-2019-20), was analysed using marks obtained in monthly tests before and after the introduction of VDTT and a questionnaire on Students perceptions of VDTT. In routine teaching of anatomy more easy to understand anatomical areas are covered first and difficult areas are covered towards end, so areas after introduction of VDTT had more complex concepts. To our surprise, significant improvement was observed in marks obtained after the introduction of these modern teaching techniques, and other important finding was, improvement in marks was significant in below-average performers. Students admitted that virtual dissection teaching techniques enhanced their learning and understanding of the subject when they were analysed using questionnaire. Hence, it is important to use multiple techniques to effectively instruct as many different types of learners as possible to the best of ability. Using these innovative strategies as an adjunct to traditional methods in teaching anatomy will help to reshape teaching skills.

Keywords: Virtual dissection, Surgical planning, Teaching skills, 3-D Visualisation.