Reactions of first-year podiatry students to cadaver dissection

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the reactions of Podiatry students to the initial anatomy dissecting laboratory sessions. Forty-three podiatry students were invited to complete a semi-structured, self-administered anonymous questionnaire (93% response). The questionnaire focused on expectations, thoughts and reactions of students. The responses revealed the students were ill-prepared for the experience and many did not know what to expect. No positive responses were recorded, with a high number of students (58%) reporting unpleasant physical reactions, nightmares and negative thoughts since the experience. A small number of students (7.5%) found the sessions so disturbing they lost academic content viability. Podiatry students may not anticipate encounters with the dead, and this may account for the relatively high number of disturbing experiences reported.