Visualizing pathology: The development of a narrated video autopsy for medical students

Experiencing an autopsy is a valuable educational tool for medical students, but declining autopsy numbers have made it increasingly rare for students to observe one. This report details the development, implementation, and evaluation of a novel, video-based autopsy teaching session at a large Medical School in London. In the session, a pre-recorded, narrated autopsy was shown to fifth-year medical students, along with interactive quizzes. The session, led by an experienced pathologist, aimed to enhance students' understanding of autopsy procedures. The effectiveness of the session was evaluated using pre- and post-session questionnaires on a Likert scale. Between 84 and 166 participants answered both the pre- and post-surveys for each statement. After the teaching session, significantly more students reported that observing an autopsy was helpful for their learning, they understood why a patient might undergo an autopsy, they knew what takes place during an autopsy, they appreciated why an autopsy might be important in a patient's care and they understood how correlating clinical history to autopsy findings can help clinicians establish a cause of death (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the number of students who would rather attend a video autopsy session than an in-person autopsy, if given the choice, also increased significantly (P < 0.001). The session allows large numbers of students to become more familiar with autopsy practice and its role in patient care during a single timetabled session. As autopsy numbers decline globally, this innovative approach could be adapted for other health professions and educational levels.