Anatomy Museums in Medical Education: utilization patterns and perceived learning benefits among Indian medical graduates

The anatomy Museum is an important educational resource for medical students, offering preserved specimens, models, and charts. However, its utilization varies, and its educational value remains unclear. This study examined utilization patterns of anatomy museums among Indian medical graduates (IMGs) and explored whether frequent academic visits enhance anatomy comprehension and exam preparation. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted from July 2024 to February 2025 among IMGs who had completed Phase 1 of MBBS. Participants were categorized as non-visitors or museum attendees. Attendees were further classified by purpose (academic, non-academic, or both) and frequency (regular: ≥10 visits/year; infrequent <10 visits/year). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Of 1270 respondents, 81.3% (n = 1032) visited the museum during Phase 1, while 18.7% (n = 238) had never visited. Among attendees, 72.6% (n = 749) engaged in structured learning, and 26.6% (n = 274) visited casually. Within structured learning, 50.3% (n = 377) were regular visitors and 49.7% (n = 372) infrequent visitors. Regular visitors reported greater benefits than infrequent visitors in exam preparation (93.9% vs. 76.6%, x² = 44.656, p < 0.001) and anatomy understanding (98.7% vs. 94.6%, x² = 9.520, p = 0.002). Barriers included academic workload and restricted access. Participants recommended unrestricted entry, structured faculty-led sessions, and upgraded infrastructure. Frequent academic visits were perceived to significantly enhance anatomy comprehension and exam preparedness, highlighting the need to integrate structured museum learning into the curriculum.