The Effect of Visual Worksheets on Learning Process and Study Behaviors in Anatomy Education at the Faculty of Dentistry

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of visual worksheets on students’ academic performance and study behaviors in anatomy education. Methods:This study was approved by the University Ethics Committee with the decision number 2025/304. The study was conducted with 96 first-year students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University. After theoretical and laboratory instruction on the anatomy of neck muscles and triangles, students completed structured visual worksheets. Data collection tools included a pre-test, post-test, the Study Behavior Scale (SBS), a demographic form, and a post-intervention feedback questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests.Results: After the visual worksheet intervention, students’ academic performance significantly improved (pre-test X̄ = 4.95; post-test X̄ =23.54; z = -8.52, p< 0.001). Students who studied before class scored significantly higher in the SBS subscales of "Initiation and Persistence," "Conscious Study," and "Exam Preparation" (p < .05). Regular studiers had significantly higher scores in all subdimensions (p<0 .001). Regression analysis showed that only regular study habits significantly predicted final exam scores (B = 9.55, p = 0.002). In total, 42.71% of students rated the visual worksheet intervention as “very useful.”Conclusion: Visual worksheets effectively improved academic outcomes. However, consistent and conscious study habits played a more substantial role in both learning behavior and exam success. Students’ positive perception of the method highlights the potential of visual materials as engaging and supportive tools in anatomy education. These findings underscore the importance of combining instructional materials with behavioral strategies for effective learning.