Enhancement of Motivation of Undergraduate Paramedical Students to Study Anatomy by a Novel Virtual Anatomy Training System

Abstract

[Purpose] This study evaluated a novel virtual 3D anatomy training system. [Subjects and Methods] Evaluation of this innovative pedagogical tool was performed by administering a questionnaire to 100 secondyear physical therapy students after using the training system to study anatomy. The questionnaire asked students to provide responses concerning anatomy practice, learning, and potential aversions to anatomy. Statistical comparisons of the data were carried out using the chi-squared test.[Results] The 3D anatomy training system raised students' interest in and motivation to study anatomy. The number of students who performed poorly in assessments for the anatomy module after being trained to use the virtual system was significantly smaller than that of the previous year when this training was not available. [Conclusion] This virtual anatomy training system has the potential to be a powerful tool in the teaching of anatomy to paramedical students.

Responses of Korean physical therapy students after practice with a virtual anatomical system in Japan

“…The Korean physical therapy students showed a trend toward giving high scores in practice-related items and anatomy-related items in this virtual anatomy practice. The novelty of the virtual anatomy system possibly had a high impact and the scores students gave for this practice were comparable to those given by Japanese students 7 ) . Compared with the research conducted by Itokazu et al in Japan 7 ) , 0% of respondents responded as negative in all items of the exercise, while 4% of the Korean students responded negative.…”

“…The students can easily learn anatomical terms in both English and Japanese corresponding to the structure on the display. The usefulness of this virtual anatomical material for education of physical therapy students has already been reported 7 ) in Japan.…”

“…The modified questionnaire concerning the present practice and anatomy developed by Itokazu et al 7 ) was translated into Korean and distributed, conducted, and collected for all students at once, after the practice.…”

“…Anatomy-related items were to be evaluated using the visual analog scale concerning 4 items created by Itokazu et al 7 ) with reference to Kubo et al 9 , 10 ) . For the visual analog scale, a 100 mm straight horizontal line was used, which was orientated from left (worst) to right (best) ends.…”

“…In order to resolve such problems, novel education methods using anatomical images have been used globally 1 , 5 , 6 ) . Virtual anatomical systems, produced using photographs of cadavers, have been applied for anatomical education at some universities 1 , 6 , 7 ) . One such virtual anatomy system (MeAV 3D Anatomie, Panasonic, Osaka, Japan) 8 ) was introduced at the International University of Health and Welfare and has been used in an isolated classroom.…”