Anatomy Knowledge Retention Among Medical Students in Clinical Training: A Comparative Study of Outgoing Preclinical and Extant Clinical Students in Southwestern Nigeria

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Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : The field of Anatomy is a fundamental part of the curriculum for Medical, Dental, Nursing and Health Sciences programs. Its preclinical and clinical correlation is crucial for the medical knowledge of aspiring professionals and the diagnosis and examination of patients. Anatomy knowledge application and retention play an essential role in daily clinical practice; physical examination, medical image analysis and diagnostic procedures. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the retention of anatomy knowledge among the outgoing preclinical medical students compared with the extant clinical students in southwestern Nigeria.
Five hundred (500) students of MBBS from 4th to 6th year were included in this cross-sectional study related to an integrated education system. Of the total participants, 45% were male, 55% were female, 55% were from the 4th year, 25% were from the 5th year, and 20% were from the 6th year. A standard self-administered questionnaire and ten substantiated multiple-choice questions were used.
A more significant percentage (46.8%) strongly agreed that anatomical knowledge from preclinical years improves performance in the clinical. A larger percentage strongly agree that anatomy knowledge in clinical practice is a skill which should be enforced and reinforced in medical education and, most importantly, to be a good doctor. Nevertheless, about two-thirds of the extant students agree that anatomy knowledge from preclinical years fades by the time they reach the clinical phase. The extant clinical students agree that a new teaching strategy should be adopted to improve the retention of preclinical anatomical knowledge.
The results obtained from this research demonstrated a consistent level of anatomy knowledge retention among early preclinical and extant clinical students. There is no difference in the measured level of anatomy knowledge retention among the outgoing preclinical medical students compared with the extant clinical students. We recommend that a modern teaching strategy be adopted in the preclinical training and vertical integration of anatomy in the clinical phase.