Students' memorization of anatomy, influence of drawing

Abstract

Introduction: Anatomy is the cornerstone of medical education. Different teaching methods can be combined. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of students' drawing of the anatomical region before and after the dissection session on their memorization of the studied anatomical region. Method: Four hundred and sixteen second-year medical students in the faculty of medicine of Damascus were included in this study during the 2013-2014 academic year. Students were randomly divided into three blinded groups. Two groups had to draw the anatomical region respectively before and after the dissection session, while the third group did not have to draw. The memorization of the region was evaluated twice, one and seven weeks after the course. Means were compared using a t-test. Results: Scores were significantly higher at 1 and 7 weeks tests in groups who were asked to draw either before or after the dissection compared to those who were not asked to draw. No statistical difference was found between the two groups who drew. Conclusion: The authors recommend the use of drawing in teaching anatomy.