Enhancing Pathology Education Through Special Staining Integration: A Study on Diagnostic Confidence and Practical Skill Development

Background: Pathology education requires innovative experimental teaching approaches to enhance clinical competency. This study evaluated the integration of special staining techniques into pathology curricula to improve diagnostic confidence and practical skills. Methods: The reform involved 227 medical students, incorporating acid-fast, PAS, GMS, Congo red, and other special stains into laboratory sessions. Diagnostic confidence was surveyed, and theoretical and practical exam scores were compared with 180 students from a previous grade. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 7.0. Results: Practical exam scores significantly improved (86.0 ± 17.2 vs. 82.2 ± 18.9, p < 0.001), while theoretical scores remained unchanged. Diagnostic confidence strongly correlated with morphological recognition, particularly for acid-fast and fungal stains. Student feedback noted challenges such as staining artifacts. Conclusion: Integrating special staining enhances practical skills and diagnostic confidence, effectively bridging basic and clinical training. Expanding such modules is recommended to advance competency-based medical education.