MAPPING DIFFICULT TOPICS IN HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY: BASIS FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING TOOL

Abstract

Anatomy and Physiology is a foundational subject critical in Health Science Education. However, due to its complexity it often makes it difficult for the students to master. This study specifically aimed to identify the top three (3) most difficult topics in human anatomy and physiology among Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology students and use the findings of the assessment as the basis for developing an interactive learning tool. A developmental research design was employed, which utilizes a 100-item multiple choice assessment based on a Table of Specification covering the ten (10) major body systems. A total of 38 purposively selected respondents participated in the study. Descriptive Statistics and an independent t-test were utilized to analyze learner’s performance and determine significant differences based on sex. Results revealed that students demonstrated strong understanding of the digestive, respiratory, urinary, skeletal and reproductive systems with 83% of respondents scoring above 60%. However, moderate performance was observed in the endocrine system, while the cardiovascular, nervous and lymphatic systems were identified as the top three most challenging areas in the subject. Additionally, findings also showed that both male and female students shared similar areas of difficulty specifically in systems which requires integration of anatomical and physiological concepts. Based on these results, an offline interactive mobile application named Anatomix was developed to address identified learning gaps through features such as flashcards, interactive modules and gamified quizzes. The study highlights the need for an innovative technology-enhanced instructional approaches in order to support deeper understanding of complex anatomical systems. Future researchers are hereby recommended to expand the scope of the application Anatomix through incorporating more body systems, enhancing adaptive multimedia features, adapting modules for other allied health programs and conducting formal evaluations to validate its effectiveness when in comes to improving anatomy and physiology learning outcomes.