RETENTION OF KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

Introduction: A good knowledge of anatomy is required for clinical practice.However, there is knowledge loss of anatomy in the later years of medical education as reportedby many studies. The study takes a step in determining the extent of the problem by the medicalstudents in the clinical years. Aim: An area of study determines the retention of Anatomy in thefinal year MBBS students. Retention rate of Anatomy taught during the basic medical years andits relevance to their clinical practice is the main focus of this study. Study Design: A Quantitativecross-sectional survey. Setting: Al Nafees Medical College, Islamabad. Period: Feb, 2017 toJuly 2017. Methods: Final year students of Al Nafees Medical College appeared in an MCQ testof anatomy, based on five modules from basic sciences to check their retention of knowledge.Results: The post hoc analysis of the result was done. Out of 64 students appearing in the test58 students scored marks above 50% and 6 students were below 50%. There were 20 studentswho retained up to 50-60% and 16 who retained anatomy up to 60-70%, with 21 studentsretaining 70-80% anatomy. Conclusions: Different magnitudes of knowledge loss was seen inthe students of the same year. The loss of knowledge may be due nonuse in the low achievingand borderline group. On the other hand the high achieving students found the revisit of thesubject beneficial to their retention in the clinical years. This level of retention was seen amongstudents who were taught anatomy with clinical relevance (contextual learning), in cooperationof all active innovative teaching and learning methods, and with the modified integrated themebased curriculum followed in the early years.