Medical students' attitudes toward the autopsy

The autopsy is an educational experience that helps students correlate clinical findings with basic science issues. Because of the sensitive nature of the autopsy, students' attitudes should be considered prior to its design and implementation.

In 1992-1993, all 147 second-year students at the Medical College of Ohio completed a 26-item Likert questionnaire about their attitudes toward the autopsy. After participating in an elective autopsy experience, 26 students completed the same questionnaire plus 18 additional questions about the environment and behavior of the pathologist. Pre- and post-autopsy responses were factor analyzed using principal-components analysis with a varimax rotation. Student's t-tests were used to compare (1) the pre-autopsy factor scores of the elective participants and the rest of the class and (2) the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the participants.

Factor analysis of the attitude questions identified seven factors. Comparison of the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the elective participants revealed statistically significant positive increases on four factors; three factors remained positive or neutral.

It was concluded that the autopsy elective had a positive influence on the student's attitudes. In addition, the pathologist's behavior and the environment in which the autopsy occurred influenced the students. Twenty-two (85%) of the students indicated the autopsy should be mandatory for all students.