Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Oct 2023)

Perceptions and Challenges Faced by Undergraduate Medical Students in Studying Anatomy: A Case Study at Kampala International University – Western Campus, Uganda

  • Mwabaleke JA,
  • Usman IM,
  • Tito AE,
  • Edet Obeten K,
  • Umar Isyaku M,
  • Monday EE,
  • Fischer VA

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 1129 – 1135

Abstract

Read online

Joseph Atupele Mwabaleke,1,2 Ibe Michael Usman,1 Andrew Emmanuel Tito,1 Kebe Edet Obeten,1 Mikail Umar Isyaku,1 Ekom Monday Etukudo,1 Victor Adolf Fischer1 1Department of Human Anatomy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda; 2Department of Human Anatomy, Mwanza University, Mwanza, TanzaniaCorrespondence: Joseph Atupele Mwabaleke, Tel +256 700 495 805, Email [email protected]: Proficiency in anatomy is of great importance for healthcare professionals and medical students alike, as it facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Despite the obvious significance, medical students have often felt challenged in studying anatomy.Purpose: The studyassessed the perceptions and challenges faced by undergraduate medical students in studying anatomy at Kampala International University – Western Campus (KIU-WC) in Uganda.Materials and Methods: Employing a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design, the study involved the administration of a standardized questionnaire to a cohort of 525 first- and second-year medical students. The questionnaire encompassed sections on student perceptions and challenges faced in studying anatomy.Results: The findings revealed that the majority of respondents 473/525 (90%) held positive perceptions of anatomy recognizing its importance in diagnosis, understanding the human body, medical terminology acquisition, and clinical preparation. While age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.54 − 1.97, p=0.93) and gender (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.32 − 0.87, p=0.93) did not significantly impact student perceptions, positive perceptions were observed across different religious affiliations and nationalities, suggesting the universal recognition of anatomy’s importance. The commonest challenges were a limited time for revision before their mid-semester and end-of-semester examination 383/525 (73.0%), information overload 374/525 (71.2%) and a lack of suitable equipment and poor internet connection for assessing online resources 352/525 (67.1%).Conclusion: In conclusion, respondents with positive perceptions dominated with higher percentages among all ages, genders, nationalities, and religions; the commonest challenges included a limited time for revisions before their mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations, information overload, a lack of suitable equipment and poor internet connection for assessing online resources.Keywords: anatomy study, student perception, study challenges

Keywords