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Use of a Digital, Profession-Specific Dissection Guide Is Associated with Improved Examination Performance and
Michael A Pascoe1,2,3, Kourtney Betts1,2
1Physical Therapy Program, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO USA.
Medical Science Educator
|August 30, 2021
Summary
A new digital dissection guide for physical therapy (PT) students significantly improved anatomy exam scores and satisfaction compared to traditional print guides. This PT-specific digital tool enhanced learning outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Anatomy Education
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Effective anatomical knowledge is crucial for physical therapy (PT) practice.
- Cadaver dissection is a common teaching method in PT anatomy courses, but limited lab time necessitates efficient instruction.
- Existing printed dissection guides lack discipline specificity and have identified limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a digital, physical therapy-specific dissection guide on student examination performance and satisfaction.
- To compare learning outcomes between students using a digital guide versus a traditional printed guide.
- To assess student perceptions of a newly developed digital anatomy dissection tool.
Main Methods:
- A digital dissection guide with enhanced features (clarified procedures, quizzes, videos, glossary) was developed for lower extremity dissections.
- Student performance was compared using practical examination scores from a group using the digital guide (2017) and a group using a printed guide (2015).
- Student satisfaction was assessed via a 19-item, five-point Likert scale survey.
Main Results:
- The digital guide group achieved a significantly higher percentage of correct answers on practical exams (91.7% ± 7.11%) compared to the print guide group (84.2% ± 9.51%, P < 0.0001).
- Survey results indicated high student satisfaction, with median ratings of 'strongly agree' for two items and 'agree' for fifteen items.
- The digital guide demonstrated effectiveness in improving both knowledge acquisition and student engagement.
Conclusions:
- A curriculum-specific digital dissection guide can significantly enhance physical therapy student anatomy knowledge and satisfaction.
- Digital tools offer advantages over traditional printed guides, particularly in time-constrained laboratory settings.
- Development of further discipline-specific digital anatomy guides is recommended to improve medical education.
