key: cord-0981020-c2moz37f
authors: McCumber, Travis L.; Latacha, Kimberly S.; Lomneth, Carol S.
title: The state of anatomical donation programs amidst the SARS‐CoV‐2 (Covid‐19) pandemic
date: 2021-06-03
journal: Clin Anat
DOI: 10.1002/ca.23760
sha: 1d319710323b5a62b51f7d4f1c5bec295911613b
doc_id: 981020
cord_uid: c2moz37f

The inclusion of human body dissection in anatomical science curricula has been described as a critical educational experience for the mastery of anatomical structures and concepts. To ensure that body donors are ethically acquired and suitable for anatomy education, Anatomical Donation Programs (ADPs) are tasked with the responsibility of acquiring body donors for basic and clinical science curricula. Considering the personal and institutional impact of SARS‐CoV‐2, a national survey was conducted to examine the current effect of the pandemic on ADP protocols, body donation, and the sustainability of ADPs in the United States (U.S.). Eighty‐nine U.S. ADPs were identified and contacted for optional participation in a survey to assess the impact of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on their programs. Survey data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools. Thirty‐six ADPs (40.5% response rate) from the nine U.S. Divisions are represented in the survey results. Data were collected on ADP descriptions and demographics, SARS‐CoV‐2 impact on ADPs and protocols, and body donation and ADP sustainability. Almost all ADPs reported that the pandemic has affected their ADP operations in some way; however, the sustainability for the majority of ADPs appears likely and donor availability remains stable due to a proportional decrease in body donations and body donor requests. As the long‐term impact on ADPs has yet to be determined, the authors plan to reevaluate the lasting impact of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on body donation, ADP sustainability, and anatomical science education throughout the year 2021.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly referred to as COVID-19, has negatively affected the physical, emotional, and economic well-being of people worldwide. The viral pandemic drastically changed personal lives, work schedules, and the education of students across the spectrum. From elementary to professional education, many institutions abruptly transitioned to online learning platforms to reduce the transmission of the novel virus.

Anatomical science is a core discipline of many professional and pre-professional health science programs. Before the pandemic, a majority of health science programs included the dissection of human bodies as an essential instructional method. Human body dissection has been described as a critical educational experience for the mastery of anatomical structures, concepts, and spatial relationships (Aziz et al., 2002; Rizzolo & Stewart, 2006) . Studies have shown the benefit and effectiveness of cadaveric dissection compared to computer-based and multimedia simulation resources (Khot et al., 2013; Saltarelli et al., 2014) , and Weeks et al. (1995) has suggested that the student encounter with a body donor reinforces respect and compassion, traits critical to student development and successful clinical practice. State and/or institutional Anatomical Donation Programs (ADPs) are tasked with the responsibility of acquiring body donors for basic and clinical science curricula. To ensure that body donors are ethically acquired and suitable for anatomy education, ADPs develop and implement policies that address requirements for body donation and use of body donors. These requirements often set limitations on factors such as donor habitus (body mass index, BMI), cause of death, and infectious diseases (such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or prion diseases). Acknowledging the personal and institutional impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the worldwide spread of a novel infectious disease, a national survey was conducted to examine the current effect of the pandemic on ADP protocols, body donation, and the sustainability of ADPs in the United States (U.S.).

Using published ADP contacts and existing ADP consortiums, 89 U.S.

ADPs were identified and contacted in July of 2020 for optional participation in a survey to assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on their programs. The authors acknowledged that at the time of the survey, the uncertainty of the pandemic trajectory could potentially leave ADPs unable to confidently answer some of the survey questions. Therefore, a majority of survey questions were designed with an optional choice of "other" in an attempt eliminate skewing of the survey data. The choice of "other" subsequently prompted ADPs to provide an alternative answer; thus allowing, but not requiring, ADPs to provide a custom response. Survey data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Harris et al., 2009; Harris et al., 2019) . Service and support is provided by the Research Informa- 

Most ADPs (33/36, 97.1%) were affected by the pandemic with only 8.3% (3/36) of the ADPs reporting no effect on their program. A majority of ADPs (29/36, 80.6%) noted that their ADP facility or institution was under a "shelter in place" or "safer at home" order at the time of the survey completion. Nevertheless, 83.3% (30/36) of ADPs reported that ADP personnel were considered essential workers during these shelter orders and were allowed to continue 

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