A Comparative Analysis of Physical Therapy Anatomical Knowledge and Retention: Human Donor Dissection Versus Virtual...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Education
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Human donor dissection (HDD) is a traditional method for anatomy education in physical therapy (PT).
• Current PT guidelines do not mandate the use of HDD.
• Few studies compare the effectiveness of virtual 3D anatomical software (VAS) to HDD in PT anatomy education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively compare the academic performance of Doctor of Physical Therapy students based on their use of HDD versus VAS for anatomy education.
• To determine if the anatomy laboratory method influences grades in anatomy and subsequent courses requiring anatomical knowledge application.

Main Methods:

• A causal-comparative study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 232 entry-level PT students between 2018 and 2021.
• Mann-Whitney tests compared grades between students using HDD (n=115) and VAS (n=117) in anatomy, kinesiology, and a foundational musculoskeletal course.

Main Results:

• Students using VAS demonstrated statistically significant higher overall anatomy course grades and practical examination scores compared to those using HDD.
• No significant differences were observed in written anatomy examination scores between the two groups.
• Performance in kinesiology and foundational musculoskeletal courses showed no significant variation between students who used VAS versus HDD.

Conclusions:

• While the study design limits definitive causal conclusions, the findings suggest that the choice of anatomy laboratory method (HDD vs. VAS) may not practically impact overall anatomy performance.
• Preliminary evidence indicates that neither method significantly affects the long-term application of anatomical knowledge in subsequent PT coursework.
• The study highlights the need for further research into optimal anatomy teaching methodologies in physical therapy programs.