ETHICAL VIEWS, ATTITUDES AND REACTIONS OF ROMANIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS TO THE DISSECTING ROOM

  • M. H. BOB University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Codruta Alina POPESCU University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • M. S. ARMEAN University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Soimita Mihaela SUCIU University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • Anca Dana BUZOIANU University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract

Aim: Our objective was to evaluate the attitudes and views of first year medical students towards cadaver dissection in anatomy learning and discuss various findings in relation with ethical problems). Material and method: The study was conducted at the”Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, during the academic year 2012-2013 at the end of the second semester. There were 121 first year medical students included. We developed a questionnaire to asses among other, the degree of fear, anxiety and stress in the dissection room, methods of coping, ethical aspects of dissection and hand it to the students. Results: 34.7% of students experienced different levels of fear on exposure to the dissection room practical sessions. Many students experienced anxiety in reaction to dissection. In the first semester most students reported physical and behavioral reaction towards certain stimuli, with a decrease in the second semester. Recurring visual images of cadavers, reported by 57% of students in the first semester, dropped to 44.6% in the second semester. Students used most frequently the ”rationalization and emotional detachment” as a coping method. Conclusions: Anatomists, most often the firsts who need to be aware of emotional and ethical issues, need to explain in detail the steps necessary for dissection and that dissection is performed with the respect of legislation, ethics and human rights.

Author Biographies

M. H. BOB, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Anatomy and Embryology

Codruta Alina POPESCU, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Social Sciences and History of Medicine

M. S. ARMEAN, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology

Soimita Mihaela SUCIU, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Department of Physiology

Anca Dana BUZOIANU, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Hațieganu” Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology

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Published
2018-04-26
Issue
Vol 118 No 4 (2014): The Medical-Surgical Journal
Section
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE - LABORATORY

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