Cadaveric Prosections Prepared by Qualified Instructional Staff Were More Efficient and Effective Teaching Modalities...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anatomy Education
• Comparative Teaching Modalities

Background:

• Traditional veterinary gross anatomy instruction relies on student cadaveric dissection.
• Dissection is resource-intensive (cost, time) and can be intimidating for students.
• Reduced instructional time necessitates exploring efficient teaching alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate instructor-prosected cadavers as a viable alternative to traditional student dissections in veterinary gross anatomy.
• To compare the effectiveness and efficiency of prosection versus dissection learning methods.

Main Methods:

• Veterinary students were randomly assigned to learn regional anatomy via instructor prosection (n=25) or small-group dissection (n=25).
• Learning outcomes were assessed through unit exams and knowledge retention quizzes.
• Student confidence and experience were evaluated via surveys.

Main Results:

• Prosection students required significantly less in-class time per week (18 minutes).
• Prosection students outperformed dissection students on 56% of practical and 44% of overall unit exams.
• Prosection students demonstrated superior knowledge retention on subsequent quizzes and reported higher confidence in anatomical accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Expertly prosected cadavers are more time-efficient and generally more effective for learning gross veterinary anatomy than traditional dissections.
• Prosection addresses student intimidation and enhances learning efficiency, making it a valuable alternative teaching modality.