Comparison of self-efficacy perception of medical and dentistry faculty students towards anatomy course
- 1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Giresun University, Giresun, Türkiye
Abstract
Objective: Anatomy plays a significant role in medical and dental education as it forms the foundation of self-efficacy perception in professional life. Therefore, students need a strong knowledge of anatomy. This descriptive study was conducted to determine and compare the self-efficacy perceptions regarding the anatomy course among second-year medical and dental students who had completed their anatomy education.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 190 students who agreed to participate, including second-year students from the Faculty of Medicine (n = 129) and the Faculty of Dentistry (n = 61) at Giresun University. Data were collected using the ‘Student Demographic Characteristics Form’ and the ‘Self-Efficacy Perception Scale for Human Anatomy Course’. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, median, minimum, and maximum values. Permission and ethical approval were obtained from the institution where the study was conducted (12.02.2025, no:2025/21).
Results: The median total scores on the self-efficacy perception scale for anatomy courses were found to be 82 (36–114) for medical students and 74 (45–100) for dental students, and a statistically significant difference was found when compared (p < 0.001). When the median scores for the three sub-dimensions of the scale were examined, statistically significant differences were also found between medical and dental students.
Conclusion: This study found that the perception of self-efficacy regarding anatomy courses differs between medical and dental students, with medical students exhibiting a higher level of self-efficacy. It was found that the type of faculty attended, attendance in anatomy practical courses, voluntary choice of faculty, and satisfaction with the faculty may influence self-efficacy perceptions; however, gender and attendance in anatomy theoretical courses were found to have no significant effect on self-efficacy perceptions.
Related
- Nutritional Literacy in Early Medical Education: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of First and Third-Year Medical Students in Turkey
- Assessing Knowledge and Risk Perception of Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Viruses Among Medical Students in Cyprus: A Cross-Sectional MosquitoWise Study
- Comparison of three emergency department triage systems among Thai medical students: A randomized three-period crossover simulation study
- Predictors of academic self-efficacy in medical intern students: the roles of mindful eating, physical activity, sleep quality, and mental workload.
- Assessment of diagnostic reasoning in acute vertigo using vignette-based tools: A cross-sectional comparison between general practitioners and final-year medical students
BibTeX
@article{akbayturk2026comparison,
title = {{Comparison of self-efficacy perception of medical and dentistry faculty students towards anatomy course}},
author = {Nevnihal Akbaytürk and Tayfun Aygün},
journal = {BMC Medical Education},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12909-026-10071-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-10071-7},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparison of self-efficacy perception of medical and dentistry faculty students towards anatomy course
AU - Nevnihal Akbaytürk
AU - Tayfun Aygün
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/06
JO - BMC Medical Education
DO - 10.1186/s12909-026-10071-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-10071-7
AB - Objective: Anatomy plays a significant role in medical and dental education as it forms the foundation of self-efficacy perception in professional life. Therefore, students need a strong knowledge of anatomy. This descriptive study was conducted to determine and compare the self-efficacy perceptions regarding the anatomy course among second-year medical and dental students who had completed their anatomy education. Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 190 students who agreed to participate, including second-year students from the Faculty of Medicine (n = 129) and the Faculty of Dentistry (n = 61) at Giresun University. Data were collected using the ‘Student Demographic Characteristics Form’ and the ‘Self-Efficacy Perception Scale for Human Anatomy Course’. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, median, minimum, and maximum values. Permission and ethical approval were obtained from the institution where the study was conducted (12.02.2025, no:2025/21). Results: The median total scores on the self-efficacy perception scale for anatomy courses were found to be 82 (36–114) for medical students and 74 (45–100) for dental students, and a statistically significant difference was found when compared (p < 0.001). When the median scores for the three sub-dimensions of the scale were examined, statistically significant differences were also found between medical and dental students. Conclusion: This study found that the perception of self-efficacy regarding anatomy courses differs between medical and dental students, with medical students exhibiting a higher level of self-efficacy. It was found that the type of faculty attended, attendance in anatomy practical courses, voluntary choice of faculty, and satisfaction with the faculty may influence self-efficacy perceptions; however, gender and attendance in anatomy theoretical courses were found to have no significant effect on self-efficacy perceptions.
SN - 1472-6920
ER -