Abstract
Macropathological practice takes a part of foundation course of Nursing, Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan. Educational effect of the practice was described after evaluating their reports.
Two main purposes were set for the practice. The first is that the students understand main legions of the cases by observing organs of cases preserved after autopsy. The second is that the students grasp the background of the cases through reading nursing reports.
Five cases with a malignant tumor, four cases with circulatory disturbance and one case with viral hepatitis were used in this practice. The materials of each case were prepared from pathological protocol as well as background sheets of the patients in advance.
The reports from students were summarized as follows:
1. Over 95％ of the students understood the main lesions of the case.
2. About 30％ of the students could systematically observe the organs.
3. About 60％ of the students could relate the main lesions of the cases and the patients' condition in there lifetime.
4. About 30％ of the students could relate the main lesions of the cases with habits and life styles.
5. About 30％ of the students could learn the significance of nursing course from this macropathological practice.
The result indicates that this practice provide a good opportunity not only to observe organs but also to help students understand the human response to diseases.
