The Effects of Pre-medical Anatomy and Clinical Experiences on Medical School Anatomy-Related Academic Performance

The objective of this study was to examine the effects that pre-medical patient care clinical experiences and anatomical education had on undergraduate medical course grades and anatomy practical exam scores. This study provides a unique perspective to this line of inquiry in that it included data from 9 class year cohorts between academic years 2010-2011 and 2018-2019, all from a single institution.

A survey to assess pre-medical clinical and anatomical experiences was completed by each new matriculate. Results were compared to each student's course grades and anatomy practical exam scores. The effects of pre-medical experiences on practical scores and final grades were evaluated using generalized linear mixed models.

Several positive and negative associations were identified. The most obvious effect revealed by data analysis was the class year cohort effect, seen as variation in the academic performance of each cohort from year-to-year. Other significant results included a positive association between pre-medical comparative anatomy coursework and anatomy assessment performance over the entire year's anatomy curriculum. Counterintuitively, some pre-medical clinical experiences, such as nursing experience, had a negative effect on course grades and practical exam performance.

Pre-medical students can use this information to decide whether to enroll in undergraduate anatomy courses or engage in extra pre-medical clinical work. It may also be valuable to medical school admissions departments in regard to determining the anatomy coursework and clinical experience requirements for their applicants.