%0 Journal Article %T Attitudes and views of first year medical students towards cadaver dissection in anatomy learning %A Ajita Rajkumari %A Bidyut Kumar Das %A Gracelee Tempy N Sangma %A Y. Ibochouba Singh %J Calicut Medical Journal %D 2008 %I %X :The present study was conducted to evaluate the attitudes and views of first year medical students towards cadaver dissection in anatomy learning. A structured questionnaire containing 18 items was administered to 99 first year medical students. For each question, the student had to choose one of the three possible responses: ˇ°yesˇ±, ˇ°noˇ± or ˇ°cannot sayˇ±. Out of 99 students, 80 (48 males and 32 females) responded to the questionnaire. Majority students (82.50%) found their first visit to the dissection room exciting. Only 26.25% were upset whereas 63.75% not upset at the beginning of the dissection. 72.50% did not show any anxiety and stress immediately before and during dissection, while 18.75% experienced anxiety and stress. 58.75% were found mentally prepared for dissection. 85% agreed that dissection enhanced their skill of thinking. 90% were of the view that dissection provided the best method for learning anatomy. 70% agreed that cadaver dissection is ethically acceptable. 26.25% reported that prior experience of dead body helped them in developing a better coping mechanism. An overwhelming majority (98.75%) considered the cadaver dissection as important and indispensable in anatomy learning. %K Attitudes %K views %K first year medical students %K cadaver dissection %K anatomy learning. %U http://www.calicutmedicaljournal.org/2008/4/e2.pdf