Cardiac auscultation training of medical students: a comparison of electronic sensor-based and acoustic stethoscopes

Henning Høyte,Knut Gjesdal,Torstein Jensen

doi:10.1186/1472-6920-5-14

Henning Høyte, Knut Gjesdal + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-5-14

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Abstract

BackgroundTo determine whether the use of an electronic, sensor based stethoscope affects the cardiac auscultation skills of undergraduate medical students.MethodsForty eight third year medical students were randomized to use either an electronic stethoscope, or a conventional acoustic stethoscope during clinical auscultation training. After a training period of four months, cardiac auscultation skills were evaluated using four patients with different cardiac murmurs. Two experienced cardiologists determined correct answers. The students completed a questionnaire for each patient. The thirteen questions were weighted according to their relative importance, and a correct answer was credited from one to six points.ResultsNo difference in mean score was found between the two groups (p = 0.65). Grading and characterisation of murmurs and, if present, report of non existing murmurs were also rated. None of these yielded any significant differences between the groups.ConclusionWhether an electronic or a conventional stethoscope was used during training and testing did not affect the students' performance on a cardiac auscultation test.

Highlights

To determine whether the use of an electronic, sensor based stethoscope affects the cardiac auscultation skills of undergraduate medical students
The stethoscope is equipped with a pressure sensitive sensor, and the signals are converted into sound waves
Four of these students were from the group using the electronic stethoscope.) Three questionnaires were incomplete and excluded from final analysis

Summary

Introduction

To determine whether the use of an electronic, sensor based stethoscope affects the cardiac auscultation skills of undergraduate medical students. The French physician Rene Laennec invented the first stethoscope in 1816[1]. Since a number of attempts to improve the stethoscope have been made, the most recent being the advent of electronic sound transmission. "TheStethoscope®" is a sensor based electronic stethoscope introduced in 1999 by Meditron (Asker, Norway) in cooperation with Welch Allyn (Skaneateles Falls, USA). The stethoscope is equipped with a pressure sensitive sensor, and the signals are converted into sound waves. It is equipped with a volume regulator and a possibility to apply frequency filtering. It can be connected to external devices (PC/ co-listening unit) allowing recording or sharing of auscultatory findings

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