TY - JOUR

T1 - Anatomy in Scotland

AU - Pryde, F. R.

AU - Black, S. M.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Background & Aims: To document changes in the educational infrastructure of anatomy in Scotland over the past 20 years. To investigate the possible impact of the GMC 1993 recommendations and assess the preparedness of Scottish anatomy to meet the implications of the proposed amendment to the 1984 Anatomy Act. Results: Over the past 20 years in Scotland, the total number of teaching staff in anatomy (full time, part time and honorary) has decreased by over 24%, full time teaching staff numbers have decreased by more than 33% and the number of clinical demonstrators by more than 70%. However, medical student intake has risen by 38% and the overall student number experiencing anatomical teaching (medicine, science and dentistry) has more than doubled, resulting in a current average staff:student ratio of 1:58. Anatomy contact hours between staff and medical students have decreased by just over 60% in the last 20 years. Conclusions: In the last 20 years, contact hours and staffing levels have decreased substantially in Scotland whilst student numbers (medical, science and dental) have increased significantly. On average the anatomical input to the medical curriculum decreased by 28% between 1983 and 1993 but post the GMC initiative, there was a further decrease of 45% resulting in current medical students in Scotland experiencing a 60% reduction in contact anatomy time compared to their peers in the early 1980’s. The decline in anatomical infrastructure is not a reassuring indicator of its ability to meet substantial future demands.

AB - Background & Aims: To document changes in the educational infrastructure of anatomy in Scotland over the past 20 years. To investigate the possible impact of the GMC 1993 recommendations and assess the preparedness of Scottish anatomy to meet the implications of the proposed amendment to the 1984 Anatomy Act. Results: Over the past 20 years in Scotland, the total number of teaching staff in anatomy (full time, part time and honorary) has decreased by over 24%, full time teaching staff numbers have decreased by more than 33% and the number of clinical demonstrators by more than 70%. However, medical student intake has risen by 38% and the overall student number experiencing anatomical teaching (medicine, science and dentistry) has more than doubled, resulting in a current average staff:student ratio of 1:58. Anatomy contact hours between staff and medical students have decreased by just over 60% in the last 20 years. Conclusions: In the last 20 years, contact hours and staffing levels have decreased substantially in Scotland whilst student numbers (medical, science and dental) have increased significantly. On average the anatomical input to the medical curriculum decreased by 28% between 1983 and 1993 but post the GMC initiative, there was a further decrease of 45% resulting in current medical students in Scotland experiencing a 60% reduction in contact anatomy time compared to their peers in the early 1980’s. The decline in anatomical infrastructure is not a reassuring indicator of its ability to meet substantial future demands.

KW - Anatomy

KW - Scotland

KW - Medical curriculum

KW - Anatomy Act

KW - GMC

U2 - 10.1177/003693300505000302

DO - 10.1177/003693300505000302

M3 - Journal article

VL - 50

SP - 96

EP - 98

JO - Scottish Medical Journal

JF - Scottish Medical Journal

SN - 0036-9330

IS - 3

ER -