Junior doctors' knowledge of applied clinical anatomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Applied clinical anatomy knowledge is crucial for junior doctors' effective patient care.
• Assessing this knowledge is vital, especially during evolving medical training programs.
• Existing training structures may not consistently impart essential anatomical understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the applied clinical anatomy knowledge levels of junior doctors in the UK.
• To compare knowledge across different career stages, from preregistration house officers to specialist registrars.
• To benchmark junior doctors' knowledge against anatomy demonstrators.

Main Methods:

• A multiple-choice questionnaire assessed 15 key areas of applied clinical anatomy.
• The study included 128 participants: anatomy demonstrators, preregistration house officers (PRHOs), senior house officers (SHOs), and specialist registrars (SpRs).
• Data were analyzed by professional group to compare knowledge acquisition and retention.

Main Results:

• A significant variation in applied clinical anatomy knowledge was observed among junior doctors.
• Average scores increased with clinical seniority: PRHOs (72.1%), SHOs (77.1%), SpRs (82.4%).
• Anatomy demonstrators achieved the highest average score (82.9%), suggesting the benefit of intensive academic training.

Conclusions:

• Clinical experience correlates with improved applied clinical anatomy knowledge, but does not fully bridge gaps.
• Intensive academic anatomical training appears highly effective and may be more beneficial than clinical experience alone.
• The findings underscore the necessity of prioritizing robust clinical anatomy training within evolving junior doctor curricula.