Acquiring Anatomy Education through YouTube: Prospects and Challenges

Background: Many students in Nigeria engage with the YouTube APP for learning purposes. This study is aimed at exploring the popularity, impact, and usefulness of using YouTube in learning anatomy as perceived by Edo State University Uzairue (EDSU) medical students while assessing the possible challenges in using YouTube in medical education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted which deployed a quantitative and qualitative method in data collection. This study population comprises medical students studying at Edo State University Uzairue, Nigeria, during the 2022/2023 academic session. A hard copy questionnaire was designed, and reviewed by experts. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS, version 23. Presented in frequencies, and percentages using tables, bars, and pie charts. Result: 183 students completed the questionnaire with sex size proportion as female students (50.8%), and male students (49.2%). The mean age of respondents was 19.72 years. The majority of the medical students were in Medicine (83%) and in their second year. 90.7% reported YouTube usage in learning Anatomy and the most viewed YouTube channels are Ninja Nerd (55.9%), followed by Anatomy Zone and Ken Hub (16.2). Students’ involvement in learning anatomy through YouTube had a positive impact on their learning attitude, comprehension, and retention. Out of the eleven challenges highlighted by students, ‘YouTube learning consumes data (which is still a luxury in Nigeria), had the highest frequency (77.6). Conclusion: The engaged medical students of Edo State University acknowledge that they learn anatomy through YouTube, affirming that it makes the learning of anatomy accessible, interesting, and easy to comprehend as well as to re-call, although with the challenge of high data consumption.