Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Perceptions and Challenges Faced by Undergraduate Medical Students in Studying Anatomy: A Case Study at Kampala
Joseph Atupele Mwabaleke1,2, Ibe Michael Usman1, Andrew Emmanuel Tito1
1Department of Human Anatomy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda.
Background:
Proficiency in anatomy is of great importance for healthcare professionals and medical students alike, as it facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Despite the obvious significance, medical students have often felt challenged in studying anatomy.
Purpose:
The studyassessed the perceptions and challenges faced by undergraduate medical students in studying anatomy at Kampala International University - Western Campus (KIU-WC) in Uganda.
Materials And Methods:
Employing a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design, the study involved the administration of a standardized questionnaire to a cohort of 525 first- and second-year medical students. The questionnaire encompassed sections on student perceptions and challenges faced in studying anatomy.
Results:
The findings revealed that the majority of respondents 473/525 (90%) held positive perceptions of anatomy recognizing its importance in diagnosis, understanding the human body, medical terminology acquisition, and clinical preparation. While age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.54 - 1.97, p=0.93) and gender (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.32 - 0.87, p=0.93) did not significantly impact student perceptions, positive perceptions were observed across different religious affiliations and nationalities, suggesting the universal recognition of anatomy's importance. The commonest challenges were a limited time for revision before their mid-semester and end-of-semester examination 383/525 (73.0%), information overload 374/525 (71.2%) and a lack of suitable equipment and poor internet connection for assessing online resources 352/525 (67.1%).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, respondents with positive perceptions dominated with higher percentages among all ages, genders, nationalities, and religions; the commonest challenges included a limited time for revisions before their mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations, information overload, a lack of suitable equipment and poor internet connection for assessing online resources.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
01:21External Anatomy of the Kidney
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...
01:12Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
01:11Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters
01:28Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
01:24Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography