Evaluation of physiotherapy students’ approaches to functional neuroanatomy and digital educational technologies by survey

Abstract

Objectives: Functional neuroanatomy is a course that examines the structure and functions of the nervous system, and it constitutes one of the most important cornerstones of basic education in the health field. Anatomy is among the most challenging courses for students in health sciences departments, because of its conceptual density and abstractness. We aimed to support the development of educational practice by assessing students' attitudes and learning strategies with respect to the functional neuroanatomy course. Methods: A 12-item survey was administered to 120 students in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences. Students’ attitudes and opinions regarding the functional neuroanatomy course were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Students generally regarded the functional neuroanatomy course as important for professional development, as requiring practice and regular attendance, and as being linked to other courses. Female students were more likely than male students to endorse the importance of the course for regular attendance and professional development. The great majority of the students who had used digital educational technologies (78.4%) reported that these applications had a positive effect on their learning. Conclusion: The functional neuroanatomy course provides students with both a professional and a cognitive foundation. Students generally find the theoretical content sufficient, but they also emphasize that practical training is very important. The integration of digital educational technologies may facilitate learning, particularly in a course that covers abstract and complex topics.

Keywords

• artificial intelligence
• neuroanatomy
• physiotherapy
• survey

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