ERIC Number: EJ1451264
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Dec
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-9772
EISSN: EISSN-1935-9780
Available Date: N/A
A Slide into Obscurity? The Current State of Histology Education in Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Medical Curricula in 2022-2023
Anatomical Sciences Education, v17 n9 p1694-1705 2024
Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (AANZ) medical schools have been impacted by curricular changes and the introduction of virtual microscopy (VM). No survey has explicitly described the outcome of these events on histology education in AANZ. This study provides a cross-sectional overview of histology education in accredited medical schools across AANZ in 2022-2023. Responses were received from 83% (19/23) of Australian medical schools, and 50% (1/2) of medical schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. VM, either exclusively (42%) or combined with traditional microscopy (37%), emerged as the preferred mode for delivering histology education. Common instructional methods included face-to-face lectures (26%) and synchronous online live lectures (26%). A significant proportion (84%) of educators supplemented resources with virtual microscopy websites. Integration of histology education was prevalent (79%), primarily with pathology (32%) or gross anatomy (26%). On average, medical students in the region spent a maximum of 21 ± 17 h in face-to-face histology laboratories throughout their degree. Histology education was predominantly taught by academics with a PhD degree. This study also examined the similarities and differences in histology education between AANZ and the global landscape. Through this examination, the present study positions AANZ within the broader context of histology education worldwide discusses key factors impacting histology education, and advocates for action to mitigate a looming shortage of pathologists in AANZ. In light of these findings, AANZ medical schools should integrate histology and pathology, establish a core curriculum, and promote flexible teaching modalities.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Medical Schools, Medical Education, Anatomy, Teaching Methods, In Person Learning, Online Courses, Synchronous Communication, Educational Technology, Computer Simulation, Pathology, Medical Students, Laboratories, College Faculty
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia; New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A