Background | Aim | Process | Titles | Evaluation | Contact

Background

Neuroanatomy is an area that undergraduates in the health disciplines find challenging. The concepts are demanding, and difficult to understand, remember and apply clinically. Students new to the area often fail to see the clinical relevance and perceive the material presented as isolated. The importance of a good understanding of neuroanatomy is often not realised until long after graduation. The structure and function of the human cranial nerves are important in all aspects of general medical and hospital practice. For the dentist, the clinical applications notably occur in the areas of pain control and anaesthesia, oral surgery, prosthodontics and gerodontics. For medical practitioners, cranial nerve assessment is an essential part of the neurological examination.

Ouch My Tooth Hurts was the first in a series of five case-based video tutorials on the human cranial nerves. Embedded in a clinical situation and using a cartoon style and actual specimens from the dissecting room, these tutorials enable students to understand neuroanatomy in its applied context. Production continues on four more tutorials.

Aims

• to create a stimulating visual presentation
• to put anatomy in a clinical context
• to produce something that could be easily used at home
• to break down student isolation
  
  

Process

Each video-tutorial begins with the presentation and history of a clinical case of a cranial nerve disorder using computer-generated, photographic and real time video images. At this point a series of questions is put to the students asking them to summarise the information, to identify problems and to formulate hypotheses to explain the clinical problem(s) with particular reference to the sensory and motor nerve pathways affected. There will then be 10-15 minutes of small group discussion with a tutor available to assist if required. The video is re-started allowing the students to review the first set of questions. Following this clinical tests may be seen, and further clinical and/or neuroanatomical information is given leading to subsequent small group discussion(s). Each video-tutorial concludes with a summary of the anatomy and arrangement of the pathways of the relevant cranial nerve and a review of the aims and objectives of the tutorial. A workbook, with matching images and text allows the students to take the information presented home for study and self-assessment of their observation skills, approach to problem solving, interpretation of information, and knowledge.

The videos are available for loan, the video format being chosen specifically to make this access as easy as possible (as opposed to using interactive multi-media).

Ouch, My Tooth Hurts is primarily intended for use by 2nd year dental students and 3rd year medical students.

Titles

Titles in the series:

Evaluation

Student and staff evaluations of the first video tutorial in this project rewarded us with positive feedback. The student responses to the open questions provided us with many positive comments, such as 'It was very simple and easy to understand' and 'We now have a clear, concise package to take home', and numerous useful comments on features that have led to improvements in subsequent tutorials.

All students agreed or strongly agreed that studying the neuroanatomy of the trigeminal nerve in a clinical context was a valuable experience, and the great majority of students indicated that their knowledge and understanding had been improved through participation in the video tutorial. Most students (97%) and staff (95%) agreed or strongly agreed that the video tutorial would be useful for self-directed learning and revision at home. They also agreed that the quality of the images was good (85% and 95% respectively); the use of matching images in the video and workbook assisted understanding (92% and 95%); and the colour coding of pathways improved understanding (92% and 100%). Following the tutorial about 10% of the students requested loan of the video.

Thanks to Annie McQueen for her work on the graphics and overall presentation to the project.

Contact
Dr Janet Fuss can be contacted on:

Tel: +61 8 8303 4052,
Fax: +61 8 8303 3444
E-mail: janet.fuss@dentistry.adelaide.edu.au
Adelaide University, Australia 5005