Teaching gastrointestinal history: t he efficacy of including a comprehensive endoscopic digital overview of the gastrointestinal system in a histology curriculum

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityOver the past several decades, significant changes have been made to the methods of teaching medical histology. One of the most significant modifications is the implementation of virtual microscopy in replacement of conventional light microscopes and glass slides. This innovative method for viewing histological samples allows students to use their computers as virtual microscopes and gives them access to hundreds of relevant digital histology slides through an online database. This modification increases efficiency and gives students more time to explore clinically relevant topics. One challenge students face in a typical histology curriculum is developing a connection between the microscopic histological samples in which they are studying and their macroscale anatomical counterparts. In gastrointestinal histology in particular, the ability to bridge this gap is imperative for generating an all-encompassing understanding of this complex system. On endoscopy, the specialized mucosal surfaces of the organs of the gastrointestinal system can be thoroughly investigated. By combining high-definition endoscopic footage of the normal gastrointestinal system with histological samples, the bridge between microanatomy and macroanatomy can be established. This study investigates the implementation of a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of the gastrointestinal system using high-definition endoscopic videos and histologic samples in a graduate and medical histology curriculum. Student performance is analyzed by comparing test question performance between students who watched the video and students who did not. After a complete review of the student performance data and student feedback, it is evident that this multidimensional overview assisted students in developing a comprehensive understanding of gastrointestinal histology