How to do better in Anatomy spot/OSPE tests

Working as a demonstrator in anatomy in facuty of medicine,university of ruhuna, sri lanka, i have noted that students find it difficult to score in anatomy spots tests. Basicallly an anatomy spot test is an time limited test where a candidate is given a body or a part of body where a specific structure is given and asked a few questions on it.In gross anatomy spot each has a time period of about one minute or less.though some claim it to be hard, a right approach to it makes it one of the easiest and most enjoyable form of examination. Here i have tried to outline few important steps that might be helpful in aceiving good marks in an anatomy spot.

A)Get to know the usual spots given in the test

there is no alternative to this step . it is imperative that a student must findout about the structure of the exam. he should know how many spot stations are available in the test, and also how many from each region of the body.also it is important to know the time limit to each spot. it is better if you could visit the place where the exam is usually held to familiarize your self to the surroundings.( i have personally done this, and it gives away special oppurtunities......if you know what i mean) another important thing is that look for spot lists of previous exams, these are usually available with students who have just finished the exams.

B)Refer the gross anatomy atlas

Once you get to know the spots that have been given in the previous exams, you should look it up in the gross anatomy atlas you have. usually each anatomy department specifies or recommends a reading list and it usually includes one or two atlases. whenever an examiner sets spots for an major exam, he makes it sure that it confirms to the normal anatomical relationshipps provided in anatomical literature. this is easiest in referring to an anatomy atlas.

C) Do not panic

after heavy preparation and you are finally there in front of your first anatomy spot station, the most common thing to happen is panicking. all you may see is a bunch of chopped up meat and nothing else. in order to prevent this from happening, mentally reharse your first anatomy spot test.once ypu get used to the situation you will find this very enjoyable.

D) See what layers and parts of the cadaver have been removed

For an example in upper limb if only the skin is removed from arm only few structures are visible. the veins and the muscles. this should come to your mind instatnly. so in such a spot you dont need to ponder over wheter this is a nerve or an artery, as nerves and arteries lies even deeper the fasciae. if i take another example, if in the thorax, the anterior wall have been completely removed , you must eliminate all structures that lies in the thoracic wall from your mind. see wheter any other structures like lung has been removed. if the lung has been removed it can well be a structure from posterior mediastinum or the posterior wall of thorax. in such occasions a student must focus his attention on to structures that lie in these parts only.

E) Do not try to give lengthy answers

In this type of exams, the examiners expect only an specific answer and never want an lengthy one. therefore the answer you give must be specific.

F)Always specify the side in bilateral strucures

for an example if the answer is facial nerve at the face your answer should include whether it is right and left or if the specimen is the colliculus of brain, it should be stated that wether it is superioir or inferior.

These are only few guidelines that a student might be able to practice. but i strongly suggest you to develpop a method that best suits you.

Abstract: Differences in knowledge and social stigma relating to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among nursing student and technical college students.

 The prevalence of AIDS in Srilanka is less than 0.1% of the general population, there is an increased risk of an increase in the number. Stigmas towards AIDS have hampered both preventive and curative aspect of the disease.

Nursing students have a future prospectus of taking care of people living with HIV/AIDS. This study was done to evaluate their knowledge of AIDS and stigma towards it in comparison with a non-medical student group, Technical college students.

Objective

To find the level of knowledge and difference in social stigma on HIV/AIDS among Nursing students and Technical college students.

Methodology

A cross sectional study. Using nursing students from NTS and students from Technical college galle ,of a total 300 individuals in the sample, which was selected by cluster sampling. Self administered questionnaire was introduced to them and data was collected from 21^st  to 28^th February 2010. A scoring system was adopted to the respondant’s answers. Data analysis was done manually and significant testing was used for each component of the study.

Results

Nursing student had a significantly higher knowledge than technical students (p=0.05),but no significant difference level of knowledge of prevention among the two groups. Fear of casual transmission, value based stigma, discrimination ,all of which are indicators of stigma, nursing students had less stigma,compared with technical college students. nursing students belive significantly  less of voluntary disclosure of AIDS by the infected than other group.

Conclusion & Recommendations

Nursing students have better knowledge and less social stigma arising due to fear of casual transmission, value based stigma , and discrimination compared to technical college students. we recommend further study on the revealed results.

Key words- AIDS , Social stigma, Nursing students, Technical college students,

A good lesson

Usually i hate most of the circulating emails.But like all other things of the world, there are a few good things among those idiotic mails. but this took my attention,because as a medical student we often forget this.
so im reproducing it here..............

The Mayonnaise  Jar

When  things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24  hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of  coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy  class
and  had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
he  picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with  golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and  poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous  'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the  table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the  professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life..

The golf balls are the important things - God,  family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things  that if everything else was lost
and  only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar  first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf  balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy  on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that  are
important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really  matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand..'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The  professor smiled..

'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that  no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls"  

I just did.....