Comparison of the effect of in vitro and in vivo exposure on cadaveric anxiety among first year medical and nursing students

Human anatomy instruction is mostly focused on cadaver dissection and prosected specimen examination. Exposure to cadaver dissection can be a stressful experience that may cause a wide variety of symptoms among students of health sciences. To compare and evaluate the effect of in‑vitro and in‑vivo exposure on cadaveric anxiety, disgust propensity and sensitivity, and attitude toward death and dying among 1st‑year medical and nursing students.

An open‑label randomized trial (matched‑control experimental design) was conducted among 127 1st‑year Medical and Nursing students from a selected Institute of National Importance, Bhopal, India during 2015. The participants were divided into an experimental and control group based on matched trait anxiety scores using the Trait Anxiety Inventory. Followed by preassessment, video demonstration with cadaver dissection (in vitro exposure) was then administered to the experimental group, while the control group had direct exposure to cadaver dissection (in vivo exposure).

The study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in state anxiety related to cadaver dissection in the experimental group (P = 0.01). However, video‑demonstration of cadaver dissection did not have any effect on disgust propensity and sensitivity and attitude toward death and dying.

The findings provided evidence that video‑demonstration of cadaver dissection reduced anxiety, although it did not have any effect on disgust and attitudes of death. The dissection hall experience may evoke feelings of anxiety and disgust that need to be addressed through advanced preparedness and coping strategies, especially among medical and nursing students.