A survey of teaching undergraduate neuroanatomy in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Medical students' perception of neuroanatomy as a challenging topic has implications for referrals and interaction with specialists in the clinical neurosciences. Given plans to introduce a standardised Medical Licensing Assessment by 2023, it is important to understand the current framework of neuroanatomy education. This study aims to describe how neuroanatomy is taught and assessed in the UK and Ireland. METHODS: A structured questionnaire capturing data about the timing, methods, materials, assessment and content of the 2019/2020 neuroanatomy curriculum in the UK and Ireland medical schools. RESULTS: We received 24/34 responses. Lectures (96%) were the most widely used teaching method, followed by prosection (80%), e-learning (75%), tutorials/seminars (67%), problem-based learning (50%), case-based learning (38%), and dissection (30%). The mean amount of core neuroanatomy teaching was 29.3 hours. The most common formats of assessing neuroanatomical knowledge were multiple-choice exams, spot tests, and objective structured clinical exams. Only 37.5% schools required demonstration of core clinical competency relating to neuroanatomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey demonstrates variability in how undergraduate neuroanatomy is taught and assessed across the UK and Ireland. There is a role for development and standardisation of national undergraduate neuroanatomy curricula in order to improve confidence and attainment.

Quality of life after selective dorsal rhizotomy: an assessment of family-reported outcomes using the CPQoL questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is widely accepted as an effective procedure for management of lower limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. However, effects of the procedure on quality of life are not widely reported and less so using a structured and validated quality of life tool such as Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire (CPQoL). Here, we present complete data for CPQoL outcomes for SDR patients operated in a single institution at 2 years follow-up. METHODS: Patients were operated over a 5-year period by the same surgeon using the same technique in a single institution. CPQoL questionnaires were completed by patients and families pre-operatively and at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-operatively. Data was collected prospectively. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients (58 male, 20 female), age range 2.6-13.8 years (median 6.33) were included whom underwent SDR between October 2012-November 2017. All had complete follow-up up to 2 years post-procedure (most recent November 2019). Four patients were excluded due to incomplete follow-up data. Statistically significant improvement was seen across five out of seven CPQoL domains and this was sustained to 2 years post-SDR. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate using a validated Quality of Life Tool that SDR has a beneficial effect on the quality of life for patients with cerebral palsy at this length of follow-up.