Table 2.

Percentage distribution of responses to dissection experiences in the full sample

Scale from 1 (I do not agree at all) to 5 (I fully agree)	1	2	3	4	5
	Percentage of respondents
1. I treat the cadaver as an object when dissecting	10.8	11.6	26.6	27.7	23.4
2. When dissecting, I try to make myself believe that the cadaver is not a person, but only resembles one.	54.3	16.2	12.0	10.2	7.3
3. I look at the cadaver as if it was plastic, or a dummy.	55.4	15.2	11.6	10.3	7.4
4. When dissecting, I cannot look on the cadaver as if it was a dummy.	17.3	12.1	18.7	25.5	26.4
5. When dissecting, I do not think that the corpse is a person, just flesh and bone, like in the kitchen.	35.5	16.1	19.7	15.4	13.4
6. In difficult situations it is important to maintain objectivity and the right distance.	2.7	3.5	17.4	30.1	46.3
7. In operations and dissection, I pay attention to the illness and pathological phenomena, and surgical and dissection technique, rather than the person.	3.3	6.2	18.3	35.0	37.3
8. To attain my aims, I had to go through such experiences and learn all of this.	2.0	2.3	8.0	19.4	68.4
9. I concentrate on problem-solving, not the visual impression.	2.1	4.2	12.5	30.7	50.4
10. You have to accept that pain, suffering and death are all part of life.	2.1	1.8	6.2	23.8	66.1
11. If such an emotional thought creeps in, I put a stop to it.	31.3	20.4	19.4	16.7	12.2
12. I try to avoid looking into the cadaver’s face and eyes.	38.0	18.1	16.0	14.3	13.7
13. I take the view that others have put up with it, and so will I.	42.2	12.0	14.6	14.9	16.3
14. A good mood and humour are very important at dissection-room practicals.	15.0	19.3	29.8	23.9	12.0
15. Humour and levity are not appropriate for dissection.	30.2	24.4	20.9	15.3	9.1
16. Touching a cadaver is never a problem.	8.0	9.1	14.9	23.7	44.3
17. Neither do I have any difficulty if I see a baby, child or young person on the dissection table.	36.6	22.3	19.5	11.8	9.8