Significance of the role of self-study and group discussion

The study of anatomy is experiencing a reduction in course duration and content, lecture and dissection hours, and number of lectures and examinations. This necessitates that medical students develop skills for self-study. Toward that end, a self-study module in basic anatomy was tested. Fifty-seven new entrants were given a pretest (Pretest A) containing a questionnaire on basic anatomy. Then, in three groups each of 11 and two groups each of 12, they learned basic anatomy from recommended books in the library by self-study for 2 hours. They discussed what they had learned among their group members during a practical exercise, followed by a posttest (Posttest A). A control group of 57 new entrants during another year was given the same pretest (Pretest B) and a lecture on basic anatomy. Then, without opportunity for self-study, they were given a posttest (Posttest B). The answers were scored out of 40. The students' mean mark in Pretest A was poor. All the groups performed well in the practical exercise. In Posttest A, the mean mark increased significantly (P < 0.001), by 9.4. It shows that self-study and group discussions significantly helped the students in construction of core anatomical knowledge as well as the acquisition, assimilation, and application of anatomical concepts and content. The mean mark in Pretest B was also poor. In Posttest B, the mean mark increased significantly (P < 0.001), by 14.2. This indicates that the traditional teaching session is also useful and serves to advance student knowledge. Thus our innovative study module can create a positive learning environment and can become an alternative to traditional instruction in teaching anatomical terminology and basic anatomy.