Emotional distress among medical students before and after the first exposure to a full cadaver dissection: a quantitative study using DASS-21.

BACKGROUND

Cadaver dissection remains a foundational component of anatomy education in many medical curricula. While it provides irreplaceable hands-on learning, it may also elicit emotional distress, especially during initial exposures. This study aimed to assess the levels of emotional distress among medical students before and after their first full cadaver dissection using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).

METHODS

This quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional study explores emotional distress among first-year medical students Higher Diploma in Pre-Clinical Sciences program (HDPCS) at Gulf Medical University -Ajman, UAE. Participants completed the DASS-21 questionnaire immediately before and after their first exposure to full cadaver dissection. Changes in depression, anxiety, and stress scores were analyzed using statistical tests.

RESULTS

A total of 80 students participated in the study. Pre-dissection scores indicated mild to moderate levels of anxiety and stress in a significant proportion of students. Post-dissection assessments showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores (p < 0.05), while stress and depression scores showed marginal or no significant change.

CONCLUSION

The first encounter with a cadaver can provoke acute emotional responses in medical students, particularly anxiety. However, emotional adaptation appears to occur rapidly post-exposure. These findings underscore the importance of psychological preparedness, reflective practices, and institutional support to ensure student well-being during cadaveric dissection sessions.