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Marima P, Chidaushe JT, King S, Chibhabha F. Historical trends and current experiences of anatomical body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools. Ann Anat 2024; 254:152243. [PMID: 38460856 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2024.152243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body donation is integral to anatomy education, but procurement can be ethically fraught. While voluntary donation is preferred, the use of unclaimed bodies, although considered unethical, is a primary means for body procurement in some countries. This mixed methods study examined historical trends and anatomy technical staff perspectives on body donation in two Zimbabwean medical schools. METHODOLOGY AND MAIN FINDINGS In Phase 1, 194 cadaver paper records from January 1984 to January 2021 were reviewed. Unclaimed bodies accounted for 67% while 33% (all white Zimbabweans) were voluntarily donated. Most cadavers were black Africans (62.4%) followed by white Zimbabweans (34.0%). Race was not indicated in seven (3.6%) records. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven technicians responsible for sourcing cadavers at the two institutions. Data were thematically analysed resulting in the development of eight themes, arranged into three domains. Cadaver procurement themes related to (1) cadaver source, (2) adherence to procurement guidelines, (3) screening for suitability, and (4) cultural and religious beliefs. Cadaver embalmment focused on (5) embalming practices, and (6) hospital mortuary-based embalming. Finally, (7) disposal processes and (8) resource constraints were found to influence cadaver disposal practices. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to best practice, there is continued reliance on the use of unclaimed bodies to support anatomy education in the two Zimbabwean medical schools. Improving the ethical sourcing of bodies requires increased efforts to educate all Zimbabweans, especially the black majority, about the role and importance of voluntary body donation in medical education. Additionally, well-structured, and well-resourced body donation programs could enhance ethical procurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillipa Marima
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Svetlana King
- Prideaux Discipline of Clinical Education, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Fidelis Chibhabha
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Buckingham, Buckingham MK18 1EG, United Kingdom.
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Leeper BJ, Grachan JJ, Robinson R, Doll J, Stevens K. Honoring human body donors: Five core themes to consider regarding ethical treatment and memorialization. ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION 2024; 17:483-498. [PMID: 38197550 DOI: 10.1002/ase.2378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Dissection of human body donors is a common component of anatomy curricula, as it provides opportunities for tactile and intellectual engagement unmatched otherwise. Additionally, interaction with human body donors contributes to the "hidden curriculum" of allowing students to begin to ethically practice patient care with empathy, respect, and compassion. With this, there have been various proposed guidelines for the ethical treatment of human body donors, with most focusing on student reflections and a final ceremony for honoring the donors, but there are numerous other ways throughout the course to incorporate ethical values and to guide students to consider the humanity of the donor. This article proposes that institutions consider the incorporation of five easily implemented formalized ethical themes for working with human body donations into daily practices: (1) reflect the donor as possessing human dignity, (2) recognize the donor's role of the "First Patient" or "Silent Teacher," (3) honor the gift of human body donation, (4) recognize the decedent's family, and (5) consider inclusivity in memorialization practices. Multiple recommendations for integrating these five themes throughout the course are provided. The incorporation of these five core themes can assist in alleviating the psychological stress that some students struggle with in dissection courses, foster the feelings and attributes that comprise the hidden curriculum and are the desired characteristics of a caring medical provider, and discourage misuse and mistreatment of donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobbie J Leeper
- Biology and Physician Assistant Programs, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeremy J Grachan
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rhiannon Robinson
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Julie Doll
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois, USA
| | - Kelsey Stevens
- Department of Health Sciences, Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, USA
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Brenner E, Bleys RLAW, de Caro R, Catereniuc I, Chirculescu ARM, Destrieux C, Eppler E, Filgueira L, Kachlik D, Kiss P, Lee C, Matveeva N, Natsis K, Pais D, Paulsen F, Piagkou M, Quondamatteo F, Reglődi D, Şendemir E, Tranum-Jensen J, Tutkuviene J, Vázquez Osorio MT. The legal and ethical framework governing body donation in Europe - 2nd update on current practice. Ann Anat 2024; 252:152195. [PMID: 38042354 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2008, members of the TEPARG provided first insights into the legal and ethical framework governing body donation in Europe. In 2012, a first update followed. This paper is now the second update on this topic and tries to extend the available information to many more European countries. METHODS For this second update, we have asked authors from all European countries to contribute their national perspectives. By this enquiry, we got many contributions compiled in this paper. When we did not get a personal contribution, one of us (EB) searched the internet for relevant information. RESULTS Perspectives on the legal and ethical framework governing body donation in Europe. CONCLUSIONS We still see that a clear and rigorous legal framework is still unavailable in several countries. We found national regulations in 18 out of 39 countries; two others have at least federal laws. Several countries accept not only donated bodies but also utilise unclaimed bodies. These findings can guide policymakers in reviewing and updating existing laws and regulations related to body donation and anatomical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Brenner
- Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria; Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group (TEPARG).
| | - Ronald L A W Bleys
- Department of Anatomy, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Raffaele de Caro
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padova, Italy; Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group (TEPARG)
| | - Ilia Catereniuc
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Andy R M Chirculescu
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, C Davila University, Bucharest, Romania; Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group (TEPARG)
| | | | | | - Luis Filgueira
- Anatomy, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - David Kachlik
- Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Péter Kiss
- Department of Anatomy, University of Pécs, Hungary
| | - Clive Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niki Matveeva
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Konstantinos Natsis
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Anatomy of Surgery, Aristotele University School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Diogo Pais
- Departamento de Deontologia, Bioética e DireitoMédico, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal; Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group (TEPARG)
| | - Friedrich Paulsen
- Institute for Functional and Clinical Anatomy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Piagkou
- Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
| | - Fabio Quondamatteo
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dóra Reglődi
- Department of Anatomy, University of Pécs, Hungary
| | - Erdoğan Şendemir
- Anatomy Department, Medical Faculty, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey; Trans-European Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group (TEPARG)
| | - Jørgen Tranum-Jensen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janina Tutkuviene
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania
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Bhattacharjee S, Ghosh SK. The Sun Also Rises: Tracing the evolution of humanistic values in anatomy pedagogy and research, including cadaveric acquisition practices. J Anat 2023; 243:1031-1051. [PMID: 37525506 PMCID: PMC10641044 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Anatomy has always been at the intersection of the socio-cultural and political landscape, where new ideas constantly replace older wisdom. From ancient Egyptians through the Greeks, and then the Romans, finally culminating into the European Renaissance-all the significant eras of human civilisation have left their insignia and distinct marks on the evolution of anatomical practices. Despite its utility as a tool for anatomy pedagogy and research that has proven its worth over millennia, cadaveric dissection has particularly been subject to political and social vicissitudes. A major debate about anatomical dissection lay with the ethical considerations, or its lack thereof, while acquiring corpses for demonstration in the dissection halls. From antiquity, anatomical dissection-often synonymous with medical studies-had typically been carried out on the dead bodies of executed criminals with certain laws, such as the Murder Act of 1752, facilitating such uses. Gradually, the uses of unclaimed bodies, resourced primarily from the impoverished sections of society, were also introduced. However, these body acquisition protocols often missed the crucial element of humanism and ethical considerations, while knowledge augmentation was taken as sufficient reasoning. Unfortunately, a gross disregard towards humanistic values promulgated heinous and illegal practices in acquiring corpses, including grave robbery and even murders like in the case of Burke and Hare murders of 1828. Follow-up legislation, such as the Anatomy Act of 1832, and comparable laws in other European nations were passed to curb the vile. What distils from such a historical discourse on humane values in anatomy dissection, or medical science in general, is that the growth and integration of humanism in anatomy have never been linear, but there were intermittent and, yet, significant disruptions in its timeline. For example, there were serious human rights violations in anatomical practices during the Third Reich in Germany that perpetrated the holocaust. The medical community has kept evolving and introducing new moral values and principles while using such egregious events as lessons, ultimately resulting in the Declaration of Helsinki in 1964. This article revisits the heterogeneous journey of integrating humanistic values in anatomy practice. Such humanistic traits that, like medical science, have also developed over centuries through the inputs of physicians, researchers, and philosophers-from Greece to modernity with an important stopgap at the Renaissance-are a fascinating lore that deserves to be re-envisioned through the lens of contemporary values and ethos. In parallel to human medicine, humanistic values continue to influence veterinary medicine, a welcome development, as our society condemns animal cruelty in any form. There are lessons to be learned from this historical journey of how humanism shaped many of the concepts that anatomists use now. Finally, and most importantly, it might prevent the medical community from repeating the same mistakes by cautioning against the traps that are there, and in a convoluted world where morality as such is eroding from our social fabric, will always be there. Such historical account acts as a righteous, ethical, and contextual compass to guide the existing and upcoming anatomists in discerning between light and dark, right and wrong, and roads-to be or not to be-taken.
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Bolcato V, Belli G, Franzetti C, Monti MC, Tronconi LP, Puci M, Morini L. Survey on health students' knowledge and perception on body donation for scientific research, education, and training after specific Italian law no. 10/2020. Ann Anat 2023; 250:152147. [PMID: 37595931 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Practicing on the human body was considered extremely relevant for health professionals' education, but a drastic reduction was observed due to an increase in alternative virtual and multimedia means, and, in Italy, also due to a lack of regulation. Italian Law 10/2020 regulates body donation for research and training through an advanced directive for post-mortem body donation. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the law knowledge and body donation perception of health students of any degree courses enrolled at the University of Pavia, Italy, in 2021, through ad hoc web questionnaire. RESULTS 485 students participated to this survey; median age was of 21 years (25th-75th percentiles, 20-23), 73.2% were females, and 62.5% were medical students. Among them 14.9% knew the Italian law 10/2020. Age was the only variable associated with students' knowledge of the law. Further, 8.3% reported the current availability of cadaveric practice, 85.6% of health students acknowledged usefulness of cadaveric practice, with a significant difference between medical and non-medical students (71.4% vs 28.6%, p < 0.001). Overall, 59.7% would donate their body, rising to 62.7% with reference to specific law regulation, with 30.5% and 28.7% undecided, respectively. 51.3% of participants answered not practicing religious faith, 82.9% with Catholic families, without significance on the knowledge of the law. CONCLUSIONS Poor knowledge of the law compared with great interest and acknowledged cadaveric practice usefulness highlighted the need for better information, especially among health students, where critical discussion could be more valuable. Then, there arises the urgent need to fill the gaps within university studies and syllabuses, to relaunch the central role that cadaveric practice and research had in the education of health professionals. Consequences on basic and specific health students' skills, on health education quality in general, and further on health professionals' expertise must be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Bolcato
- Legal Medicine Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Nazionale C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Belli
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Chiara Franzetti
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Monti
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio P Tronconi
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mariangela Puci
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Morini
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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Chen WL. Body Donation Registration in Taiwan: Reasons and Associated Psychological Factors. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11070969. [PMID: 37046896 PMCID: PMC10093931 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11070969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissection is an essential element of medical training and depends on the availability of cadavers. However, traditional Chinese culture widely regards the body as a gift from one’s parents that should remain intact after death, resulting in a shortage of cadavers for medical training and research. This situation changed in Taiwan when Master Cheng Yen, the founder of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, supported the donation of bodies to medical science. This study aimed to investigate the current situation of body donation in Taiwan, including donors’ motivation and psychological characteristics. A questionnaire was conducted with 681 adult participants, including 336 people who pledged to donate their bodies to medical science after death and a control group comparable in age, gender, and level of education. All participants answered questions regarding anxiety over death, purpose in life, gratitude, altruism, and life satisfaction. In addition, the registered donor group answered questions regarding the motivation for donating their bodies to science. The main influencing factors were to help advance medical science, make a positive contribution to society, and release attachment from the body. Further, many male participants indicated the desire to reduce trouble and expenses that their families would incur in making funeral and burial or cremation arrangements. The main predictors of donating one’s body to medical science were low anxiety concerning death, a high level of altruism, and gratitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Lan Chen
- Department of Human Development and Psychology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970048, Taiwan
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De Stefano A, Rusciano I, Moretti V, Scavarda A, Green MJ, Wall S, Ratti S. Graphic medicine meets human anatomy: The potential role of comics in raising whole body donation awareness in Italy and beyond. A pilot study. ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION 2023; 16:209-223. [PMID: 36346170 DOI: 10.1002/ase.2232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cadaver dissection has always played a fundamental role in medical education. However, especially in Italy, the topic of body donation has remained partially unknown for years. The current study analyses graphic medicine as a new possible communication tool, evaluating and reflecting, with second-year students enrolled in the International School of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Bologna, about its potentialities for body donation awareness-raising in both the scientific community and the general population. For the first time in an Italian University, two graphic medicine workshops were organized focusing on human anatomy and body donation. Seminars were positively evaluated by students using a four items Likert-scale question: mean 3.54 (± SD 0.73) for the Likert question about the experiences of the workshops; 3.88 (± 0.33) for the Likert question regarding the use of graphic medicine in body donation awareness campaigns among the general population; 3.59 (± 0.65) for the Likert question regarding the use of graphic medicine in body donation awareness campaigns among the scientific community. Furthermore, the open-ended questions included in the anonymous questionnaire were analyzed using the constructivist grounded qualitative analysis, whence various themes emerged. Finally, five graphic medicine projects about body donation were created by students, proving their interest in testing this method to promote body donation, focusing the attention on different communicative aspects. Considering the results of this pilot study, the co-creative collaborative use of graphic medicine could be evaluated as an additional strategy to increase body donation awareness-raising in Italy and beyond, especially in the non-experts' community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia De Stefano
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Anatomy Centre, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Isabella Rusciano
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Anatomy Centre, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Moretti
- Department of Sociology and Business Law, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alice Scavarda
- Department of Culture, Politics and Society, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Michael J Green
- Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shelley Wall
- Biomedical Communications Graduate Program, Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stefano Ratti
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Anatomy Centre, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Human body donation and surgical training: a narrative review with global perspectives. Anat Sci Int 2023; 98:1-11. [PMID: 36227535 PMCID: PMC9845172 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-022-00689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Utilization of human material in surgical simulation training has been well-established as an effective teaching method. Despite the value of donor-based surgical simulation training, its application may be hampered by difficulties regarding access to donated bodies. Therefore, the aim of this review is to assess body donation and body acquisition practices with regard to surgical simulation training programs around the world. The results of this review highlight discrepancies regarding body donation practices and surgical simulation programs among continents and countries. The utilization of donor bodies in surgical simulation appears to mirror body donation practices. In countries that rely mostly or exclusively upon unclaimed bodies or executed criminals, there are scant reports of donor-based surgical simulation programs. In countries where willed-body donation is the principal source of human material, there tend to be many surgical simulation programs that incorporate human material as part of surgical training. This review suggests that, in anatomical and surgical education, the utilization of active willed-body donation programs, as opposed to the utilization of unclaimed human bodies, positively corresponds with the development of beneficial donor-based surgical simulation programs. Likewise, donor-based surgical simulation training programs may have an influence on the perpetualization of willed-body donations.
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Boulos AN. Evaluation of the effectiveness of online education in anatomy for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Anat 2022; 244:151973. [PMID: 35738314 PMCID: PMC9212768 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background In the field of medicine, anatomy is considered one of the most important subjects to be studied in college, even for clinicians. Learning from cadaveric specimens is considered an important part of the medical experience. The current study consisted of a questionnaire given to Year 1 and Year 2 medical students. This study was performed to assess using a questionnaire whether students were capable of continuing studying Anatomy during the COVID-19 period. Methods The study consisted of 102 students in Years 1 and 2 of the Faculty of Medicine of Alexandria University in Egypt. It included Year 1 Students (mean age 18.6 ± 1.1 years old; 21 males and 36 females), and Year 2 Students (mean age 20.4 ± 1.0 years old; 22 males and 23 females). The survey consisted of three sections. The first section consisted of four questions on the demographic data of the participating students. The second section consisted of 10 questions concerning their satisfaction with the tutorials and presented by the Department of Anatomy. Answers to the questionnaire were in the form of a Likert scale (with 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Results The students disagreed with the fact that they found difficulty in time management, represented by a mean score of 2.23 ± 1.14. That is to say, the students were capable of managing their time well. Here also, the difference between Year 1 and Year 2 students was significant (p = 0.028), which is an indicator that Year 2 students found more difficulty in time management. Most students agreed (mean score of 3.48 ± 1.07) that they were able to handle online learning and the transition between the systems was acceptable. Students were also convinced and agreed that the methods used by the college limited the spread of COVID-19 (mean score of 3.81 ± 1.04). Allowing assignments and projects increased the interaction between the students and the staff members. Conclusions Education must continue during the COVID-19 period, based on their responses and opinions in the questionnaire. Online learning proved to be effective in teaching medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atef N Boulos
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
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Orsini E, Quaranta M, Mariani GA, Mongiorgi S, Cocco L, Billi AM, Manzoli L, Ratti S. Near-Peer Teaching in Human Anatomy from a Tutors' Perspective: An Eighteen-Year-Old Experience at the University of Bologna. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:ijerph19010398. [PMID: 35010658 PMCID: PMC8744748 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The University of Bologna School of Medicine in 2003 adopted a near-peer teaching (NPT) program with senior medical students teaching and assisting younger students in human anatomy laboratories. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of this program-unique on the Italian academic panorama-from the tutors' perspective. An anonymous online survey was administered to all those who acted as peer tutors in the period from 2003 to 2021; it evaluated tutors' perceptions regarding the influence of the tutoring experience on their skillset gains, academic performance, and professional career. Furthermore, tutors were asked to express their views on the value of cadaver dissection in medical education and professional development. The overall perception of the NPT program was overwhelmingly positive and the main reported benefits were improved long-term knowledge retention and academic performance, improved communication, team-working and time management skills, and enhanced self-confidence and motivation. Most tutors strongly believed that cadaver dissection was an invaluable learning tool in medical education, helped them to develop professionalism and human values, and positively influenced the caring of their future patients. Nearly all the participants highlighted the importance of voluntary body donation for medical education and research. The present results supported the thesis that tutors themselves benefited from the act of teaching peers; this impactful experience equipped them with a wide range of transferable skills that they could draw on as future educators and healthcare professionals.
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Bartoletti-Stella A, Gatta V, Mariani GA, Gobbi P, Falconi M, Manzoli L, Faenza I, Salucci S. Three-Dimensional Virtual Anatomy as a New Approach for Medical Student's Learning. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:13247. [PMID: 34948857 PMCID: PMC8702207 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Most medical and health science schools adopt innovative tools to implement the teaching of anatomy to their undergraduate students. The increase in technological resources for educational purposes allows the use of virtual systems in the field of medicine, which can be considered decisive for improving anatomical knowledge, a requisite for safe and competent medical practice. Among these virtual tools, the Anatomage Table 7.0 represents, to date, a pivotal anatomical device for student education and training medical professionals. This review focuses attention on the potential of the Anatomage Table in the anatomical learning process and clinical practice by discussing these topics based on recent publication findings and describing their trends during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The reports documented a great interest in and a positive impact of the use of this technological table by medical students for teaching gross anatomy. Anatomage allows to describe, with accuracy and at high resolution, organ structure, vascularization, and innervation, as well as enables to familiarize with radiological images of real patients by improving knowledge in the radiological and surgical fields. Furthermore, its use can be considered strategic in a pandemic period, since it ensures, through an online platform, the continuation of anatomical and surgical training on dissecting cadavers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bartoletti-Stella
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Valentina Gatta
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
| | - Giulia Adalgisa Mariani
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
| | - Pietro Gobbi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), Urbino University Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy;
| | - Mirella Falconi
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
| | - Lucia Manzoli
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
| | - Irene Faenza
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
| | - Sara Salucci
- Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.A.M.); (M.F.); (L.M.); (I.F.)
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An Ancient Science to Improve Today's Clinical Practice: Oral Surgery Meets Human Anatomy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182211915. [PMID: 34831673 PMCID: PMC8619130 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human body dissection was a ubiquitous practice in the past, to better understand anatomy and to develop medicine. Today, its role could still be important to answer everyday clinical queries and help surgeons. The example of the possible lack of anesthesia during symphysis surgeries can emphasize the usefulness of dissection. The mandibular symphysis usually receives innervation from inferior alveolar nerve terminations, but, in some rare cases, a particular anastomosis involves the lingual nerve and the nerve to the mylohyoid. The anatomical knowledge resulting from body dissections could help oral surgeons to understand the reason why the patient could feel pain during the surgery, and ensure performance of the right lingual nerve block to obtain complete anesthesia. This clinical situation shows the educational role of an ancient, yet still valid, practice, human dissection, and the importance of anatomical studies to improve surgical skills, to provide better treatment for the patient.
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13
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Oliveira AGFD, Gonçalves AF, Soares JN, Salgado LHN, Santana BS, Passos MV, Reis JLDO, Arantes GC, Campos LFS, Carvalho MS, Gama LCFD, Rezende AB. The creation of a body donation program at Federal University of Juiz de Fora in Brazil: academic importance, challenges and donor profile. Anat Cell Biol 2021; 54:489-500. [PMID: 34657839 PMCID: PMC8693134 DOI: 10.5115/acb.21.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissection and human specimens study remain the gold standard method for teaching anatomy. Due to the increasing health science courses in Brazil, the traditional way of obtaining bodies for scientific purposes, the unclaimed ones, became insufficient. In addition, this source is no longer ethically appropriate according to anatomists. In order to maintain the teaching quality, the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) in Brazil, inspired by successful initiatives around the world, created a body donation program; Sempre Vivo. Besides the bureaucratic difficulty faced during its regulation, the implementation of a body donation program requires special attention regarding the religiosity, culture and uniqueness of the city's inhabitants. Informing people can demystify the process, avoid prejudice and increase the number of donors. In this way, an outreach project was designed to publicize Sempre Vivo and raise public awareness. In the first six years, Sempre Vivo reached the mark of 64 registered donors and seven bodies received. The donor’s profile corresponds to female (70.3%), 57 years of age, retired (50.8%), spiritist (53.1%) and with 12 years or more of formal education (90.6%). Considering that the UFJF has not received unclaimed bodies for ten years, the program was considered satisfactory up to this level and, in the future, it may be the exclusive source of anatomical specimens. The description of the creation and the publicizing of Sempre Vivo, the overcome challenges, as well as the donors’ profile, may encourage and facilitate the foundation of similar programs in Brazil and abroad.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Júlia Nunes Soares
- Department of Anatomy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alice Belleigoli Rezende
- Department of Anatomy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.,Department of Medical Education, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
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14
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De Caro R, Boscolo-Berto R, Artico M, Bertelli E, Cannas M, Cappello F, Carpino G, Castorina S, Cataldi A, Cavaletti GA, Cinti S, Cocco LI, Cremona O, Crivellato E, De Luca A, Falconi M, Familiari G, Ferri GL, Fornai F, Gesi M, Geuna S, Gibelli DM, Giordano A, Gobbi P, Guerra G, Gulisano M, Macchi V, Macchiarelli G, Manzoli L, Michetti F, Miscia S, Montagnani S, Montella ACM, Morini S, Onori P, Palumbo C, Papa M, Porzionato A, Quacci DE, Raspanti M, Rende M, Rezzani R, Ribatti D, Ripani M, Rodella LF, Rossi P, Sbarbati A, Secchiero P, Sforza C, Stecco C, Toni R, Vercelli A, Vitale M, Zancanaro C, Zauli G, Zecchi S, Anastasi GP, Gaudio E. The Italian law on body donation: A position paper of the Italian College of Anatomists. Ann Anat 2021; 238:151761. [PMID: 34139280 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting. Critical issues arise concerning the learners, the type of training and teaching activities that can be planned, the position of academic anatomy institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the time frame of the donation process, the eligibility of partial donation, or the simultaneous donation of organs and tissues to patients awaiting transplantation. In particular, a universal time limit for donations (i.e., one year) makes it impossible to plan the long-term use of specific body parts, which could be effectively preserved for the advanced teaching and training of medical students and surgeons. The abovementioned conditions lead to the limited use of corpses, thus resulting in the inefficiency of the whole system of body donation. Overall, the donors' scope for the donation of their body could be best honoured by a more flexible and tuneable approach that can be used on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, it is deemed necessary to closely monitor the events scheduled for corpses in public nonacademic institutions or private enterprises. This paper presents useful insights from Italian anatomists with the hope of providing inspiration for drafting the regulations. In conclusion, this paper focuses on the critical issues derived from the recently introduced Italian law on the donation and use of the body after death and provides suggestions to lawmakers for future implementations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele De Caro
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Rafael Boscolo-Berto
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marco Artico
- Department of Sensory Organs, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Bertelli
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Mario Cannas
- Department of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Human Anatomy, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Biomedicine and Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Guido Carpino
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Castorina
- Department of Biomedical and Technological Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Amelia Cataldi
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Guido Angelo Cavaletti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Experimental Neurology Unit, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Saverio Cinti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Center of Obesity, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Ottavio Cremona
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Crivellato
- Department of Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonio De Luca
- Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Mirella Falconi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Familiari
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Ferri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, NEF-Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Gesi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Geuna
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Giordano
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Pietro Gobbi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | - Germano Guerra
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Massimo Gulisano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Veronica Macchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Guido Macchiarelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Manzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Michetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Miscia
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefania Montagnani
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Sergio Morini
- Laboratory of Microscopical and Ultrastructural Anatomy, "Campus Bio-Medico di Roma" University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Onori
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Palumbo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Human Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Michele Papa
- Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Porzionato
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Mario Raspanti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Mario Rende
- Department of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Human, Clinical and Forensic Anatomy, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rita Rezzani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ripani
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Fabrizio Rodella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pellegrino Rossi
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Secchiero
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiarella Sforza
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Stecco
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Toni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Vitale
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Zancanaro
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sandra Zecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pio Anastasi
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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