The Attitudes of Interns Towards the Anatomy Course: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the attitudes and perspectives of interns regarding anatomy, who were in the final stage of their medical education, in which anatomy knowledge is integrated with clinical knowledge. Materials and Methods: An online survey incorporating the 14-item Anatomy Attitude Scale, organized into three subgroups, was created, and a total of 245 interns completed the questionnaire. Results: The majority (91.8%, n=225) had a negative attitude towards the abolition of anatomy courses in medical faculties. Of the participants, 80.8% (n=198) stated that learning anatomy made them happy, and 75.92% (n=186) would not call someone who did not know anatomy a physician. A total of 94.3% (n=231) of participants agreed that they should refresh their anatomy knowledge at the beginning of every internship. During the internship, they found the circulatory system to be the system they needed the most and the locomotor system to be the most remembered. Conclusion: It was observed that the participants better remembered the topics they needed most in the clinic. Additionally, the interns unanimously agreed that reminder lectures were definitely necessary. This study potentially contributes to determining the optimal balance of systems for programs planning vertical or horizontal integration.