Inspiring Tanzanian medical students into the profession: appraisal of cadaveric dissection stress and coping strategies

Learning experiences and environments greatly influence mastery of competencies during training and in future career. From its nature, cadaveric dissection early in the medical training has the potential to daunt the student’s interest in the medical profession during training and in the future clinical practice. This study aimed at appraising the Tanzanian first year medical students at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences on emotional and physical stress during practice in cadaver dissection room, coping strategies and attitude on dissection. 169 students completed a self administered questionnaire that assessed emotional and physical symptoms encountered during cadaver dissection. The questionnaire also asked for the coping strategies. The frequency distributions were used to summarize demographic variables, reaction and coping strategies. The commonest symptoms were disgust, fear and nausea. Curiosity, prior mental preparedness, pressure and help from the staff were the major coping strategies. About four in five students were fearful and anxious at the beginning, but the figure dropped towards the end of the dissection course. Females reported significantly higher rates of symptoms than males. Prior exposure to a dead body significantly lowered the levels of stress. Close to 95% positively favored dissection over other methods. About 90% would go through the dissection course given another chance. Almost all students would recommend the medical profession to their younger relatives. Anatomy staff and mentors should devise appropriate coping strategies including gradual introduction to dissection room, proper cadaver preparations, proper counselling and complementing dissection with videos and radiographic pictures