Attitudes and reactions of Jordanian medical students to the dissecting room

Emotional and psychological reactions of Jordanian medical students to the dissecting room (DR) were assessed. A questionnaire was distributed to 200 students in preclinical years in the academic year 2002-2003 in the faculty of medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology; 145 students have responded. Varying degree of fear on first entering the DR was reported by 28.4%. The most frequent reactions were recurring visual images of cadavers 28.9% and palpitation 19.3%. Students' reactions were most commonly elicited by smell of the DR 58.5% and by fear of infection 50.3%. The most frequent method of coping with such fears was by rationalization 89.8%. Significant gender differences (P < 0.05) were found in the most aspects of DR experiences. Female students showed higher level of fear, reported recurring visual images of cadavers more often than males, were more disturbed by certain stimuli in the DR and used religious books and praying as coping methods more frequently than their male peers. The need for appropriate psychological preparation of students before DR practical on human cadavers is discussed.