Low-cost cold porcelain anatomical models: An affordable complementary teaching tool

Background

Human cadavers are an important component of anatomy education; however, they have limitations. In this scenario, alternative artificial models emerge to complement teaching and enable learning in environments with scarce resources. The following study aims to demonstrate the elaboration of handmade cold porcelain models and their acceptance by medical students in a Brazilian university.

Approach

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 70 first-year medical students using quantitative and qualitative analysis. The students' evaluation was analysed through an online questionnaire with a Likert scale and an open-ended question. The present study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. Five models were produced with cold porcelain and resin.

Evaluation

Qualitative evaluation highlighted the ease and practicality of the models. Students agree with the idea that the use of cadavers and handmade anatomical pieces contribute to their learning, that the handmade models are very similar to the human body, and they strongly agree that the use of both made it easier to understand the content. However, they also see the models as complementary materials, disagreeing with the idea that they are the best or the only ways to teach. In the word cloud, the words “unreal” and “complement” are often highlighted converging to the idea that was also observed in the quantitative analysis that handmade models are a complementary teaching tool.

Implications

Cold porcelain handmade models enable the democratisation of anatomy teaching; hence, they are low-cost, easy to access, and allow the reproducibility of anatomical structures by each student. Anatomical models that emerge, such as handmade models, are an important complement to anatomy education and a solution for places with scarce resources.