MEDICAL-STUDENTS ATTITUDES TOWARD THE AUTOPSY

Background. The autopsy is an educational experience that helps studen ts correlate clinical findings with basic science issues; Because of t he sensitive nature of the autopsy, students' attitudes should be cons idered prior to its design and implementation. Method. In 1992-1993, a ll 147 second-year students at the Medical College of Ohio completed a 26-item Likert questionnaire about their attitudes toward the autopsy , After participating in an elective autopsy experience; 26 students c ompleted the same questionnaire plus 18 additional questions about the environment and behavior oi the pathologist. Pre- and post-autopsy re sponses were factor analyzed using principal-components analysis with a varimax rotation. Student's t tests were used to compare (1) the pre -autopsy factor scores of the elective participants and the rest of th e class and (2) the pre- and post-autopsy scores of the participants. Results. Factor analysis of the attitude questions identified seven fa ctors. Comparison of the pre- and I-rest-autopsy scores of the electiv e participants revealed statistically significant positive increases o n four factors; three factors remained positive or neutral. Conclusion . It was concluded that the autopsy elective had a positive influence on the students' attitudes. In addition, the pathologist's behavior an d the environment in which the autopsy occurred influenced the student s. Twenty-two (85%) of the students indicated the autopsy should be ma ndatory for all students.