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Anatomy learning styles and strategies among Jordanian and Malaysian medical students: the impact of culture on learning anatomy

  • Teaching Anatomy
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Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to investigate anatomy learning styles and strategies of Jordanian and Malaysian medical students at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Methods

The study is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Students’ responses for the questionnaire were numerically coded, and the results were analyzed to reveal statistically significant differences between Jordanian and Malaysian students.

Results

The results showed that Jordanian medical students were less interested in using cadavers in learning anatomy than Malaysian medical students. However, similar to their Malaysian counterparts, they prefer to employ other tools to learn anatomy like plastinated models and Internet-based resources. In addition to the aforementioned tools, Malaysian students were more interested in using cross-sectional images and making their own revision cards. Both Jordanian and Malaysian medical students were more interested in learning anatomy through clinical cases, and by system rather than by region. Moreover, it was revealed that Jordanian medical students learn anatomy more efficiently when they formulate a general view of a particular topic. Both Jordanian and Malaysian medical students also relied on reciting definitions and memorizing facts to learn anatomy. The study also reported significant differences between Jordanian and Malaysian students’ perspectives on learning anatomy.

Conclusions

The findings of the study suggest that Jordanian and Malaysian medical students posses different cultures of learning. Jordanian anatomy instructors need to consider these different learning cultures when they prepare their instructional methods and teaching materials to fulfill the educational needs of their culturally diverse students.

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Acknowledgments

The questionnaire used in this study is adapted from Mitchell et al. (Anat Sci Ed, volume 2, issue 2, 2009, pages 49–60; copyright 2009, John Wiley and Sons, Inc) with permission of the copyright holders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box: 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Ayman G. Mustafa, Mohammed Z. Allouh & Ibrahim M. Hoja

  2. Department of Elementary Education, College of Education, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

    Intisar G. Mustafa

Authors
  1. Ayman G. Mustafa
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  2. Mohammed Z. Allouh
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  3. Intisar G. Mustafa
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  4. Ibrahim M. Hoja
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Correspondence to Ayman G. Mustafa.

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Mustafa, A.G., Allouh, M.Z., Mustafa, I.G. et al. Anatomy learning styles and strategies among Jordanian and Malaysian medical students: the impact of culture on learning anatomy. Surg Radiol Anat 35, 435–441 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-1067-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-1067-z

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