Abstract Objectives An insufficient knowledge of anatomy often complicates the interpretation of radiological findings by students learning clinical medicine. During a 3-week clinical course in oral radiology, students attended lectures on anatomy for half of each day. Our objectives were to evaluate this program and determine why some students remained unmotivated to learn anatomy.

Methods Surveys were carried out using two questionnaires, one for evaluating the students’ beliefs regarding the necessity of knowing anatomy and their understanding of radiology and anatomy, and the other for determining the value of the educational program. In total, 126 questionnaires were analyzed. Structural equation modeling and decision analysis were used to analyze the data obtained.

Results Beliefs regarding the necessity of knowing anatomy were explained by three variables: the necessity of knowing imaging anatomy, the necessity of knowing gross anatomy, and understanding of anatomy. Awareness of the necessity of knowing anatomy and understanding of graphical images were not strongly correlated. The educational program was characterized by two factors: “value” and “appropriateness” These were strongly correlated. Student interest in the content of the course was found to be the most important factor in student evaluations of the educational program. Students who answered “agree”, “disagree” or “strongly disagree” to three items, “interested in the content of the course”, “obtained knowledge through the course” and “expected the course to be useful in the near future” were likely to have insufficient understanding of and awareness of the necessity of radiology and anatomy.

Conclusions The inclusion of lectures on anatomy is beneficial for improving student understanding of oral radiology. Student interest in the content is important in evaluations of radiology–anatomy programs.

• Content Type Journal Article
• Category ORIGINAL ARTICLE
• DOI 10.1007/s11282-007-0061-3
• Authors
  • Masahiro Imanaka, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Yoshiaki Nomura, National Institute of Public Health Department of Oral Health Wako Japan
  • Yoh Tamaki, National Institute of Public Health Department of Oral Health Wako Japan
  • Seiko Katsumura, Tsurumi University Department of Second Anatomy, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Yumi Kimura, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Chinami Igarashi, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Masao Yuasa, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Satsuki Wakae, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Rin Tanaka, Tsurumi University Department of First Anatomy, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Shinji Shimoda, Tsurumi University Department of First Anatomy, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan
  • Kaoru Kobayashi, Tsurumi University Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dental Medicine Yokohama Japan

• • Journal Oral Radiology
  • Online ISSN 1613-9674
  • Print ISSN 0911-6028
  • Journal Volume Volume 23
  • Journal Issue Volume 23, Number 2 / December, 2007