Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses

INTRODUCTION: Human anatomy is one of the fundamental pillars of basic medical sciences, which forms the cornerstone of the ever-evolving medical practice. It is, therefore, important to strengthen anatomy education at all stages of medical training. Since 2020, the Department of Human Anatomy...

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Main Authors: J. Gashegu, D. Hakizimana, I. Ncogoza, M. Nyundo, F. Ntirenganya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication Center 2023-03-01
Series:Rwanda Medical Journal
Subjects:
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author J. Gashegu
D. Hakizimana
I. Ncogoza
M. Nyundo
F. Ntirenganya
author_facet J. Gashegu
D. Hakizimana
I. Ncogoza
M. Nyundo
F. Ntirenganya
author_sort J. Gashegu
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION: Human anatomy is one of the fundamental pillars of basic medical sciences, which forms the cornerstone of the ever-evolving medical practice. It is, therefore, important to strengthen anatomy education at all stages of medical training. Since 2020, the Department of Human Anatomy, in collaboration with the Department of Surgery, organized surgical anatomy dissection courses to improve surgical practice safety and competence. This educational study aimed to share lessons learned from organizing anatomy dissection courses and measure the impact on knowledge and skills acquisition by surgical trainees. METHODS: Courses were designed with clear learning objectives and programs. A pre-test was administered to trainees before the dissection course, and a post-test was organized at the end of the course. Descriptive statistics were used to compare pre- and post-test scores. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Likert scale was used to measure trainees’ satisfaction at the end of every course. RESULTS: From August 2020 to December 2021, 11 cadaveric dissection courses were organized, and 173 trainees from 6 Surgical Residency programs: Plastic surgery, General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery, ENT, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nineteen trainers from the Surgery Department and Anatomy Department were involved. There was a significant improvement in marks in the post-test test as compared to the pre-test score. The average increase in the mark was 26.4% with a 95% CI [23-0 – 29.7], p-value < 0.001. There was a negative correlation (r=-0.8948, p-value < 0.001) between the marks at pre-test and the improvement score, suggesting that the lowest performers on the pre-test had the biggest post-test improvement. Trainees’ satisfaction was at a high level. 87.6% of trainees reported a desire to pursue training to become anatomy educators in the future. CONCLUSION: Surgical anatomy dissection courses positively impacted surgical knowledge and skills acquisition, integrating anatomy into surgical training. Cadaver-based surgical procedures simulation should be encouraged and integrated into surgical curricula.
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spelling doaj.art-cc407aae90f744fbae3c26893a3a2c092023-04-03T19:30:20ZengRwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication CenterRwanda Medical Journal2410-86262023-03-0180191101https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/rmj.v80i1.13Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses J. Gashegu0 D. Hakizimana1I. Ncogoza2M. Nyundo3 F. Ntirenganya4 Department of Human Anatomy, University of RwandaDepartment of Human Anatomy, University of Rwanda; Department of Surgery, University of RwandaDepartment of Surgery, University of RwandaDepartment of Surgery, University of RwandaDepartment of Surgery, University of RwandaINTRODUCTION: Human anatomy is one of the fundamental pillars of basic medical sciences, which forms the cornerstone of the ever-evolving medical practice. It is, therefore, important to strengthen anatomy education at all stages of medical training. Since 2020, the Department of Human Anatomy, in collaboration with the Department of Surgery, organized surgical anatomy dissection courses to improve surgical practice safety and competence. This educational study aimed to share lessons learned from organizing anatomy dissection courses and measure the impact on knowledge and skills acquisition by surgical trainees. METHODS: Courses were designed with clear learning objectives and programs. A pre-test was administered to trainees before the dissection course, and a post-test was organized at the end of the course. Descriptive statistics were used to compare pre- and post-test scores. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Likert scale was used to measure trainees’ satisfaction at the end of every course. RESULTS: From August 2020 to December 2021, 11 cadaveric dissection courses were organized, and 173 trainees from 6 Surgical Residency programs: Plastic surgery, General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery, ENT, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nineteen trainers from the Surgery Department and Anatomy Department were involved. There was a significant improvement in marks in the post-test test as compared to the pre-test score. The average increase in the mark was 26.4% with a 95% CI [23-0 – 29.7], p-value < 0.001. There was a negative correlation (r=-0.8948, p-value < 0.001) between the marks at pre-test and the improvement score, suggesting that the lowest performers on the pre-test had the biggest post-test improvement. Trainees’ satisfaction was at a high level. 87.6% of trainees reported a desire to pursue training to become anatomy educators in the future. CONCLUSION: Surgical anatomy dissection courses positively impacted surgical knowledge and skills acquisition, integrating anatomy into surgical training. Cadaver-based surgical procedures simulation should be encouraged and integrated into surgical curricula. anatomydissectionsurgical anatomysurgical trainingcadaver course
spellingShingle J. Gashegu
D. Hakizimana
I. Ncogoza
M. Nyundo
F. Ntirenganya
Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
Rwanda Medical Journal
anatomy
dissection
surgical anatomy
surgical training
cadaver course
title Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
title_full Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
title_fullStr Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
title_full_unstemmed Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
title_short Impacting surgical training: Role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
title_sort impacting surgical training role of surgical anatomy dissection courses
topic anatomy
dissection
surgical anatomy
surgical training
cadaver course
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AT dhakizimana impactingsurgicaltrainingroleofsurgicalanatomydissectioncourses
AT incogoza impactingsurgicaltrainingroleofsurgicalanatomydissectioncourses
AT mnyundo impactingsurgicaltrainingroleofsurgicalanatomydissectioncourses
AT fntirenganya impactingsurgicaltrainingroleofsurgicalanatomydissectioncourses