Analysis of ultrasound in teaching gross anatomy to medical students

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound is used as a supplement in undergraduate anatomy teaching. Summary of work: Ultrasound was incorporated into practical session of upper/ lower limb natomy. Questionnaires were distributed to 30 first year graduate entry (A101) & 211 second year (A100) medical students and feedback analysed using chi-square test. Summary of results: The response rate was 60.2% (145/241). 78% of A101 and 63% of A100 students found the teaching useful/ essential. The graduate entry group had statistically significant positive responses for identifying bone (91.67% vs. 70%, p=0.02), vessels (91.67% vs. 54.4%, p=0.001) & nerves (45.83% vs. 12.60%, p=0.001), finding line diagram useful/essential (95% vs. 55.10%, p<0.001) and being able to translate most/ all of the structures on line diagram (61.90% vs. 36.61%, p=0.03) when compared with non-graduate group. Similar trend though not significant was obtained for identifying muscle (62.5% vs. 51.67%, p=0.33) & tendons (45.83% vs. 31.67%, p=0.18). Conclusions: Majority of students found ultrasound as a useful tool in anatomy teaching. The A101 group had better results probably because they are mature learners or had the advantage of having cross-sectional anatomy images with line diagrams. Take home message: Ultrasound could act as a useful adjunct in teaching anatomy to medical students.