Abstract

• Undergraduate education is moving away from didactic teaching towards more self-directed learning. E-learning is an increasingly popular and valuable mode of learning. Peer Learning or Peer-assisted learning (PAL) can also offer better engagement, deeper understanding and learning by students. We therefore aim to help and guide our medical students to produce a web-based eLearning module on applied clinical anatomy in General Surgery and Orthopaedics for fellow medical students.
• Anatomy is taught in pre-clinical years, but the clinical application of the anatomical knowledge is often not appreciated due to lack of clinical knowledge. The cause of surgical patient’s symptoms can often be deducted by understanding the relevant clinical anatomy and physiology. Appreciation of 3D anatomical relationship to surrounding structures can help to better understand the difficulties faced during surgery and potential risks and complications.
• We propose to produce easy to understand clinically relevant applied anatomy through anatomically annotated clinical examination and live operations by collaborative work with students, surgeons, anatomists and IT team. This will allow students an opportunity to produce learning materials in the format they want and will use. This project will also help the future teachers learn the process involved in producing e-learning materials.

Brief write-up

Project objectives

To produce easy to understand clinically relevant applied anatomy online interactive learning material through anatomically annotated clinical examination and operations by collaborative work with students, surgeons, anatomists and IT team.

Activities, process and outcomes

Student focus groups were formed to assess the needs of the students. Literature review was performed on applied surgical anatomy and online learning for medical students. Essential clips were identified and key anatomical strictures were annotated. These were incorporated into interactive eLearning material to augment student’s understanding.

Deliverables and evaluation

Annotated short video clips and images were used for eLearning modules on clinical examinations, Surgery: Thyroidectomy, right hemicolectomy, and Whipples procedure. It has also been used for teaching by surgeons. Different formats were used by different groups of students to suit the needs of the students from different years. Students found intergradation of relevant anatomy to real clinical scenarios relevant. It allowed them to appreciate the importance of applied anatomy in assessment of their symptoms, signs and possible complications of disease and surgery.

Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices

eLearning modules were incorporated to surgical teaching in clinical years. It will be submitted for presentation at institutional and international conference for dissemination of good practice.

Impact on teaching and learning

Students often memorize list of symptoms, signs of various diseases and complications of surgery. This has allowed the students to revise their relevant anatomy and use applied anatomy to understand why they get certain symptoms and signs, and work out the possible complications of diseases and surgery.