Integration of Art in Pathology Education: Insights from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Agadir

TL;DR

This study explores how using diagrams in pathology education can help medical students learn better through visual learning.

Contribution

The study introduces diagram replication as a novel teaching method in pathology education.

Findings

Most students found diagram replication valuable for visually intensive subjects.

Group A showed increased willingness to use drawing after the session.

No significant difference was found in perceived effectiveness between groups.

Abstract

Introduction

Traditional teaching methods in medical education, such as lectures and textbooks, may not always fully engage students, especially in pathology, where visual learning plays a crucial role. This study examines the effectiveness of using diagrams as a learning tool to improve comprehension in the general pathological anatomy module.

Materials and methods

At the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Agadir, 182 third-year medical students were divided into two groups. Group A observed and replicated simplified diagrams of three pathologies - acute appendicitis, nodal tuberculosis, and well-differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma - while Group B did not use diagrams. The effectiveness of this approach was evaluated through pre- and post-session questionnaires.

Results

The majority of students recognized drawing as a valuable learning tool, particularly for visually intensive medical modules. Although no significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in their intent to use drawing in future studies (p = 0.158) or their perception of its effectiveness (p = 0.547), Group A showed a significant increase in willingness to incorporate drawing after the session (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Visual learning, especially through diagram replication, can enhance pathology education. The significant increase in students’ willingness to incorporate drawing into their study methods highlights the potential value of integrating this approach into medical curricula.

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