134 - Anatomical Variations: Understanding Educational Perceptions and Experiences

Poster Board Number: 134
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : Introduction and Objective

The overarching goal of gross anatomy education is for learners to gain a comprehensive understanding of the structure of the human body. However, despite the extent of anatomical variations within the human population, this topic is often absent from formal anatomy curricula. Awareness and recognition of anatomical variations are crucial not only for the training of future health care professionals, anatomists, and educators, but also to promote inclusive learning environments. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate student and educator perceptions, experiences, and challenges associated with anatomical variations in gross anatomy curricula to update educational practices.

Materials and Methods

This project will begin with a scoping review (phase 0), which will document pedagogical approaches for anatomical variations across the literature to identify gaps in gross anatomy curricula. The results of the scoping review will inform the design of the research study, which will be broken down into two phases: 1) perceptions and experiences + resource creation; 2) resource evaluation. Phase 1 of this study will employ a mixed methods design to explore student and educator perceptions of, and experiences and challenges with, anatomical variations in Canadian gross anatomy courses. The results from the mixed-methods study and scoping review will be central in the design of resources, such as an Instructor Guide and Strategies to Support Students. These resources will be open-access and available for use across institutions and programs. During phase 2, the short- and long-term impacts of the resources will be evaluated across Canadian gross anatomy courses. Short-term impacts will be measured at the time that students and educators are using the resources in their courses. Long-term impacts will be evaluated through student surveys at later timepoints to determine the value that the resources have on their future educational or occupational pathways. Results from phase two will be used to inform the design of future iterations of the educational resources.

Progress

This project is in the early stages of development and therefore results have not yet been obtained. The goal of this presentation at Anatomy Connected 2023 is to receive feedback from experts in the field on the methodology of the study.

Significance and Implication

Education in anatomical variation is lacking in gross anatomy curricula across the globe. As many students in human anatomy courses aspire for a career in health care, knowledge and recognition of anatomical variations is a crucial skill to develop. Regardless of a student’s future career aspirations, incorporating anatomical variations into the curriculum humanizes the discipline, acknowledges systemic barriers to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, and provides a space for empathy to be practiced. Including variations in anatomy education will contribute towards a diverse curriculum that is inclusive of the human population across races, ethnicities, ages, sexes, and physical abilities. The exploration of student and educator perceptions and experiences, as well as current gross anatomy curricula, will inform the creation and implementation of updated educational resources to advocate for the inclusion of anatomical variations in gross anatomy courses.