Hands-On vs Hands-Off: Assessing student’s preferences in Learning Styles of Practical Anatomy in Faculty of Medicine -Northern Border University

Abstract

Background:

The field of anatomy education has long been debated in terms of the most effective instructional methods. Traditional cadaveric dissection has been a cornerstone, but advances in technology have introduced virtual dissection alternatives.

Objective:

This research aimed to investigate student preferences and learning styles concerning hands-on (cadaveric dissection) and hands-off (virtual dissection) approaches in practical anatomy education.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among students enrolled in the MBBS program, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a standardized, validated, self-administered questionnaire. Three-hundred eighty-six students participated in the study.

Results: 

Females constituted (58.8%) of participants while males constituted 41.2%. If terms of Practical Anatomy learning preferences, most participants (55.3%) preferred a balanced mix of hands-on and hand-learning styles, while (35.5%) preferred hands-on learning, and (14.2%) preferred hands-off learning. Students who were very satisfied with the current learning approach to Practical Anatomy sessions was 26.9%; however, a significant portion (15.8%) indicated that they were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with the current learning approaches.

Conclusions:

 Our study found that females were more likely in favor a hand-off learning style compared to the males; on the other hand, second-year students display a higher preference for hands-on learning approaches compared to first- and third-year students. The present study reveals the preferences and satisfaction levels of medical students regarding practical anatomy learning and highlights the importance of catering to diverse learning styles and needs.