EVALUATING THE PERCEPTIONS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL ANATOMY MODELS AND DIGITAL DISSECTION TABLES IN ANATOMY LEARNING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70905/bmcj.06.02.0541Keywords:
Anatomy; Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Teaching Materials, StudentsAbstract
Background: Anatomy education is a keystone of medical training, crucial for developing clinical skills across various specialties such as surgery and radiology. Traditionally, anatomy has been taught using physical models, offering tactile engagement and spatial understanding. However, the advent of digital innovations, particularly virtual anatomy tables, has introduced high-resolution, interactive learning experiences, prompting a need to evaluate their educational value in comparison to conventional tools.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness, engagement, and preferences of undergraduate medical students regarding traditional anatomy models and 3D digital anatomy tables at Gomal Medical College.
Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 175 first- and second-year MBBS students at Gomal Medical College from October 2024 to March 2025. A census sampling approach was applied. Data were collected through a self-developed, validated questionnaire. The Anatomage Digital Anatomy Table ,The Asclepius Anatomy Table, developed by Sunglasses Inc. (Taiwan Main Orthopedic Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taiwan),was used alongside traditional anatomical models. Descriptive and inferential statistics applied using SPSS v30.
Results: Among respondents, 92 (52.6%) were male and 83 (47.4%) female, with a mean age of 19.8±1.2 years. While 95 (54.3%) preferred traditional models and 108 (61.7%) favored digital tables, 150 (85.7%) supported integrating both. Digital tables were perceived as more engaging (74.3%) and helpful for 3D understanding (68.6%), whereas traditional models enhanced tactile and spatial learning (65.7%) and long-term retention (57.1%).
Conclusion: Both digital and traditional anatomy tools have distinct strengths. Integrating digital tables for visualization with physical models for tactile learning may optimize anatomy education in modern medical curricula.
